One of the things I like about doing historical films is drawing the line between now and then.

When you're dealing with killing people and things that are upsetting, that can be a delicate place to occupy yourself for a day.

We start off wearing frilly shirts and britches and being good guys and the heroes. And then as time goes on, every English actor ends up playing bad guys. That's what we do.

I think the James Bond thing has sailed. But of course I would want to be a Bond villain. They are great parts. I think it's highly unlikely, but one can always dream.

Somebody doing something effortlessly is a lovely thing to watch.

Im not a big fan of patterns. I like the unexpected.

One of the great things about being an actor is that you have a completely different challenge every few months.

Actors are their own worst enemies. They quite often will get in their own way, and I have to be encouraged, endlessly, not to get in my own way.

Ring tones are just irritating, aren't they?

I think the older I get, the less I should be doing.

I don't have much time for real violence at all. I think there are infinitely better ways of changing the world than using violence. Sitting round a table talking is a pretty good start.

You never step backwards when you’re sure of where you’re going.

Aborigines, n.: Persons of little worth found cumbering the soil of a newly discovered country. They soon cease to cumber; they fertilize.

Life's a car ride...Sometimes it's cruise control down smooth highways. Other times it's potholes on rural roads.

I just think if you're 44 years old and you're not smarter than you were when you were 35 years old or 25 years old, just stay in your room.

It's great to have something to dress up for. You know, I spent three years in slacks at drama school, so now I like putting a dress on.

Quotations are the gold mine of human mind, the silver pearls of the wisdom ocean, and the cool drops of the rain of intelligence.

The human mind inherently seeks intelligible order. Thus the conviction that such an order exists to be found is a crucial assumption.

Keep fear out of your child's mind, as you would keep poison out of his body; for fear is the deadliest of mental poisons.

Emigration is no longer a solution; it's a defeat. People are risking death, drowning every day, but they're knocking on doors that are not open.

Worried thought prevents practical thought which could prevent worried thought.