The moment I'm perceived to be even a tiny bit successful, my career will go down the pan.

People in London think of London as the center of the world, whereas New Yorkers think the world ends three miles outside of Manhattan.

I miss being fawned over by restaurateurs and chefs.

I expect that in 40 years' time I'll be writing political tomes and working for an organisation like Oxfam.

I tried being a mechanic and I tried catering, but I realized I had even less aptitude for semi-skilled labour than for academic work.

Everyone said to me growing up, "You're like an American. You have to go to America. That's your spiritual home."

My life's ambition is to play a James Bond villain. I have the cat and the eye-patch, so I'm just waiting for the call. For some reason, though, the phone hasn't rung.

I've become a professional failure - in order to pay the mortgage I have to remain unemployed. Luckily, a disaster always seems to befall me at exactly the right moment.

I don't envy young Brits crossing the Atlantic to make their fortunes today.

Top Chef is a very smooth-running machine. All the people working there are incredibly professional and absolutely at the top of their game.

I wouldn't describe myself as a master of anything.

Just because you came to the end of your rope, doesn't mean that you were climbing down.

I don't have much time' is a lousy excuse. There is always time, what we you don't have is the skills to manage the time.

You read a script and its based on 'Reservoir Dogs' and 'Pulp Fiction', and it goes right in the bin.

Our political leaders often talk about Russia taking an independent path, but they like to live like people in the West.

Each building should produce as least as much energy as it's going to need, and have more to put on the grid. They should be using all of the natural light and natural heat.

After this interview, I'm going to immigration to try to sort out my Green Card, just like any other normal person.

If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be; and if all else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger.

It is motive alone that gives real value to the actions of men, and disinterestedness puts the cap to it.

I think I went through everything anyone who had a long career needed. I needed quiet. I needed to raise my children.

The minority is always stronger than the majority, because the minority is generally formed by those who really have an opinion.