"Inevitably, every part an actor plays contains some of himself." — David Suchet

I've always been short and stocky. So when I got into repertory theatre after graduation, I found myself doing character roles: because of my deep voice, shape and height, I was playing 40-year-old, 50-year-old roles at the age of 23.

When I was 16, I made some little 35mm documentaries about the poor in London. I went round Notting Hill, which was a real slum in the 1950s, shooting film.

I'm really not interested in showing me or playing me. My gift as an actor, given to me, is to be able to become other people.

I love music, especially classical like Verdi; it's a great way to relax.

I'm really into my photography and am trying to catch up with digital generation - I was used to the old 35mm cameras.

A successful swindler has to be a great salesman even more than a great actor.

I'm never bored, never ever bored. If I've got a day off I'll sit in a cafe and watch and observe. I'm a great observer.

I'm three-quarters Russian, so I've always felt an outsider. But I don't think you can be in a play with John Of Gaunt's 'This sceptred isle' speech and not feel proud to be British.

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Inevitably, every part an actor plays contains some of himself.