“A big part of what I wanted to do with this character was go from when I was a boy and try and develop into a man, really try and play him as a man who is on this search, on a journey of personal, spiritual, political, social discovery.”

I love it. I hate that word (fatherhood), but I love being a father; it’s changed everything in so many ways.

If you have kids who are struggling with dyslexia, the greatest gift you can give them is the sense that nothing is unattainable. With dyslexia comes a very great gift, which is the way that your mind can think creatively.

The process of making a movie is what I love. I thrive on that. It’s an exciting miracle, a mad adventure. I love being part of it.

I missed my home – like the physicality of my home, I missed my friends and my family mostly and just hanging out and being in your home country – culturally it feels right and that is what I miss.

I think it’s sort of a rite of passage for a British actor to try and get the American accent and have a good crack at doing that.

We have to make good use of the time we have. That simple. We have to wake up every day, knowing that it’s not just an ordinary day. We have to take the moment, seize each day.

The role of an actor is to make every character believable.

I don’t care much about the money at all. Frankly, if I get the chance to kiss someone in a movie, they wouldn’t need to pay me at all.

I know you can be up one minute and drop the next, so I’m trying to maintain a steady course so I can have some longevity.

I crave working on those small independent movies because I love going to see those myself.

Failure is simply the non-presence of success. But a fiasco is a disaster of mythic proportions.

I’m trying to mix the cool, independent stuff with the big stuff, but it’s been difficult finding the right roles. It’s been an interesting ride as far as my career pendulum is concerned

I trained for three years at drama school to be an actor – not a celebrity.

I’m always amazed at anyone’s interest in what I have to say.

I’m probably a good boyfriend, but I’m pretty intense. When you’re with me it’s exciting, fun and very intense. At the same time, I’m easy going. But all that depends on what girl I’m with.

The thing about fame, is you never think it’s going to happen to you. So when it does, it’s sort of a shock. Some people are just better at it than others.

I have frequently gained my first real insight into the character of parents by studying their children.

I create women characters by watching the female staff at my studio. Half the staff are women.

Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.

Man scans with scrupulous care the character and pedigree of his horses, cattle, and dogs before he matches them; but when he comes to his own marriage he rarely, or never, takes any such care.

Character, in the long run, is the decisive factor in the life of an individual and of nations alike.

Those who assume a character which does not belong to them, only make themselves ridiculous.

Difficulty shows what men are.

You will be better advised to watch what we do instead of what we say.