My business is not to show anybody anything; my job is just to do it.

There's no great mystery to acting. It's a very simple thing to do but you have to work hard at it. It's about asking questions and using your imagination.

I was brought up in a house full of women; the first time I realised no one was interrupting me was when I was on stage - that's probably the subconscious reason I became an actor.

I used to do a lot of comedy. I don't know what happened. I think it's my face.

What I love about the East End is that theres a great perseverance, determination and courage. What I dislike about it is that there is sometimes a celebration of ignorance.

It's a very fascinating thing for an actor to play somebody who is suffering, and you have to express the suffering, but in an inarticulate way and sometimes a dysfunctional way, through violence.

I wanted to work with Bryan Singer because I like his films.

Different races never fazed me because coming from Bethnal Green, I'd been around people of different races forever. Different class? That was much harder.

I've got four kids to feed and a wife to provide for. It's a worry but a great responsibility as well and one I relish.

I want to be respected as an actor. There's my ego. But I don't have a great need to be liked by an audience.

The trick to acting is not to show off, it's to think the thoughts of the character.

Nona was as wacky as they came.

Sometimes they're nothing, sometimes they're something, sometimes there's a connection that years later may show up. All of this information is useful.

If you are first you are first. If you are second, you are nothing.

The stories are success stories. The letters from listeners often touch the heart and can be inspiring.

I dislike boats," Ragnor observed, looking around. "I get vilely seasick." The turning green joke was too easy. Magnus was not going to stoop to make it.

If we're an arrogant nation, they'll resent us.

If a fish were an anthropologist, the last thing it would discover would be water.

Why are Americans so fascinated by Ireland?" Keith asked... "you all think you're Irish. What's the appeal? Do you like the accent more? Is it all the magical rocks? Oh, look, a lep­rechaun.

Sometimes the one person that's bad for you is the person that on a bad day can make you feel good.

I make the game easy. Double and triple me, I'll kick it out to you for a wide-open shot. I'll add years to your career.