“I’m Scottish first, and it’s odd to hear that I’m a Scottish-American.”

Nowadays people don’t know how to handle it if all the ends aren’t tied up and they’re not told what to think in films. And if they’re challenged, they think it’s something wrong with the film.

It is actually important to do songs they’re familiar with. Also, I love those songs. In a way, I think I’ve changed people’s perceptions of what a cabaret show like this could be.

A sweaty Macbeth with blood on his arms coming in fresh from the battle doesn’t interest me.

My feeling about work is it’s much more about the experience of doing it than the end product. Sometimes things that are really great and make lots of money are miserable to make, and vice versa.

When there’s an adult person who’s scaring you, you grow up pretty quickly.

It is not hard to feel like an outsider. I think we have all felt like that at one time or another.

It’s really rare for film directors to be that interested in things other than themselves.

Sometimes people get really sniffy about the films you choose if you’ve done more dramatic projects or you’re classically trained.

It’s hardly ever done, compared to how often it’s done in other companies, not just Britain. Someone from the Roundabout Theater Company – I said, “You never do Shakespeare.” And he said, “Yes, we’re not very good at it.” And I thought, “What a terrible thing to say.”.

I have no regrets in my life even the crazy things I’ve been in. It all made me the I am today and I wouldn’t change anything. I’m happy with who I am!

For example, Americans seem reluctant to take on Shakespeare because you don’t think you’re very good at it – which is rubbish. You’re missing out here.

I’m not a fan of Twitter.

Actually I like working kind of fast, because if you got it, why bother doing it over and over?

It’s exciting to be with really, really good people. Some people make you feel like you’ve got to up your game.

I like the tragedies way more than the comedies because they’re so universal.

I don’t avoid anyone but I always think some people hate me.

90% of the divorces are initiated by women. That is really odd. Why? What’s going on? What’s the great discontent at the heart of it?

Television is where you earn regular money so you can plan a little bit but even then only when you have a regular gig. If you’re just doing the odd appearance, you don’t know if it will carry on.

Ski racers are built odd with overbuilt butts and legs.

The Stones always tried to do the odd smaller gig when they could.

There is the odd exception, like Albert Einstein, but as a breed, scientists tend not be very good at presenting themselves.

It was odd how one found oneself making trivial conversation on important occasions. Perhaps it was because one could not say what was really in one’s mind.

Odd’s fish, m’dear! The man can’t even tie his own cravat!

Please don’t make the mistake of thinking that the arts and sciences are at odds with one another. That is a recent, stupid and damaging idea.