My father was grounded, a very meat-and-potatoes man. He was a baker.

It was a challenge, to work with Oliver Stone.

Oh yes. I'm an actor, so I just learn my lines, and show up and do it. I gave it a little bit of thought.

I love life because what more is there.

I'm always cast in these strange men... that's not me, really.

I'm most suspicious of scripts that have a lot of stage direction at the top of the page... sunrise over the desert and masses of... a whole essay before you get to the dialogue.

I am able to play monsters well. I understand monsters. I understand madmen.

We are dying from overthinking. We are slowly killing ourselves by thinking about everything. Think. Think. Think. You can never trust the human mind anyway. It's a death trap.

I worked with Lawrence Olivier some years ago. He was a great mentor.

I love roller coasters. I don't get a chance often, but I've gone to Magic Mountain and gone on the rides. I love roller coasters.

I know that the arts are important. I'm not denying that, but I can't associate myself with all the claptrap that goes on around it.

Actors I admire? Ed Harris, or course, I think he's terrific; because I know he always had to fight being what he looked like a lot, but I think he's a terrific actor.

I'm the slowest driver in the world.

And I love a scary movie. It makes your toes curl and it's not you going through it.

I like the good life too much, I'm not good at going on stage night after night and on wet Wednesday afternoons.

This industry has been really good to me. It's been a great life. I'm not through yet. I'm ready when you are, Mr. DeMille.

I don't know what acting is, but I enjoy it.

I think all those actors from that generation, like Bogart - they were wonderful actors. They didn't act. They just came on and they did it, and the characters were wonderful.

Richard Burton came from the same town as me, so I thought I'd follow my nose, and follow my luck. I think I've been very lucky.

I would like to go back to Wales. I'm obsessed with my childhood and at least three times a week dream I am back there.

I have dual citizenship, it just so happens I live in America.

I have no interest in Shakespeare and all that British nonsense... I just wanted to get famous and all the rest is hogwash.

I don't have people following me around, like bodyguards. I don't know how people live like that. Maybe the young movie stars have to live like that, I don't know. But it seems a little crazy to me. I don't think you need all that stuff.

Well, everyone likes movies when they're a little kid.

I worked with Steven Spielberg on Amistad... he seemed so very secure in himself that he let me do things.

Why love if losing hurts so much? I have no answers anymore; only the life I have lived. The pain now is part of the happiness then.

My father was grounded, a very meat-and-potatoes man. He was a baker.

I have a punishing workout regimen. Every day I do 3 minutes on a treadmill, then I lie down, drink a glass of vodka and smoke a cigarette.

I came here in 1974 to do a play, and then I went to L.A. I really like living in America. I feel more at home here than anywhere else.

I never make conscious decisions.

I've got a great sense of humor.

I've got no need to prove to myself that I can do Shakespeare. I've done it.

Every time I try to retire, or even think of retiring from acting, my agent comes up with a script.

A conductor can't be too arrogant with an orchestra and try to impose himself too much.

Beware the tyranny of the weak. They just suck you dry.

I always had a knack for improvisation. I can write down the notes I play, but never really had a proper academic musical background. I suppose I'm blessed and cursed by the fact I have that freedom.

I am not very good with relationships. With anyone. I can't be locked up with anyone for too long.

I can't stand directors who try to micro-manage everything. When it happens these days I just walk off set, saying if they don't like the way I'm doing it they can get someone else.

I come from - I came from Wales, and it's a strong, butch society. We were in the war and all that. People didn't waste time feeling sorry for themselves. You had to get on with it. So my credo is get on with it. I don't waste time being soft. I'm not cold, but I don't like being, wasting my time with - life's too short.

I don't believe in nepotism. I don't much like the idea of parents who interfere.

I don't have many friends; I'm very much a loner. As a child I was very isolated, and I've never been really close to anyone.

I don't know why they gave me a knighthood - though it's very nice of them - but I only ever use the title in the U.S. The Americans insist on it and get offended if I don't.

I don't like freeloaders; I don't like people who are negative.

I know that some actors and directors like to have intensity on set. I don't, particularly. Certainly, if they want that, that's fine, but I can't work like that.

I like to take it easy.

I love life because what more is there?

I spent two years in the military service, then I trudged around in repertory for quite a while. I somehow wound up at the National Theatre, though, and then I was definitely on my way.

I tend to get bored quickly, which means I must be boring.

I think a certain amount of stress in life is good. The stress of just working, which takes effort - I think it keeps you going.