Actor

I was a student in London in the '70s, so CBGB really wasn't on my radar at all. Obviously, I was aware of the emergence of the Police in England and as an art student, I was very aware of David Byrne, but I suppose my musical taste at that time certainly didn't stretch towards the Dead Boys or the Ramones.

Parts win prizes, not actors.

From my experience, I think that every actor has to make sure that they're in charge of their own career somehow or other.

I have a love-hate relationship with white silk.

Nothing gives me as much pleasure as travelling. I love getting on trains and boats and planes.

On film you put all your energies into a single glance.

I get stage fright and gremlins in my head saying: 'You're going to forget your lines'.

And it's a human need to be told stories. The more we're governed by idiots and have no control over our destinies, the more we need to tell stories to each other about who we are, why we are, where we come from, and what might be possible.

So you can't judge the character you're playing ever.

I knew with Snape I was working as a double agent, as it turns out, and a very good one at that.

Film has to be reflecting the world that we live in, and that's all you want to be a part of. Actors inhabit the same planet as everyone else. It's a weird thing that happens when you're an actor because people hold you up because you somehow embody in parts groups of people or people's hopes or something.

I think every English actor is nervous of a Newcastle accent.

The point about a great story is that it's got a beginning, a middle and end.

A lot of the time I hate the theater. You think, 'I have to climb Mount Everest, again, tonight.' Oh, the theater is a scary place to be.

I don't think it's right that everybody knows everything about me.

I think there's some connection between absolute discipline and absolute freedom.

What is it about actors? God knows I get bored with actors talking about themselves.

I'm very aware that when one is acting in the theater, you do become kind of animal about it. And you're reliant on instincts rather than tact a lot of the time.

All I want to see from an actor is the intensity and accuracy of their listening.

It is an ancient need to be told stories. But the story needs a great storyteller. Thanks for all of it, Jo.