The acting I got into by doing what we call pantomime, when I was sixteen. And, there were loads of very pretty girls in the show. I realized; I found out very early on, that the lead comic gets the girl. So, that was cool. When I went to university, I studied Economic Social History. And drama. That kind of got me into it. My main passion was to make films. It was never to be an actor. At that time, there weren't many opportunities for a working class Scottish actor. It was kind of an English thing. And it required a certain mannered cerebral acting style that I couldn't relate to.
In the acting game, you spend a long time fighting against what the director perceives you to be. And half the time the directors don't know.
Nine out of ten delinquents are frustrated actors.
I did 'Deathly Hallows' so my kids could get on the 'Harry Potter' set. They met Daniel Radcliffe, who was a darling and couldn't have been nicer to them so I'm a hero right now.
A lot of actors aren't particularly good directors. And they're not particularly good with other actors. That's kind of a fallacy.
What point is there to all the wealth and power that America may have if they can't look after its own?
I don't like the way some actors, when playing a nasty character, will try to grab hold of something good about them.
Truth is I don't think God on a daily basis. I think politics, science.
There's a part of bohemia I love. The lack of prejudice, the lack of aggression, I love the lack, for the most part, of competitiveness. It's more peaceful.
I was on the set of 'Braveheart' and my mate says to me, 'Do you think this film will be any good?' And I really meant this, too, I told him 'Let me put it this way - It won't win any awards.' Cut to: five Oscars.
