A biography for Adrian Lesterhasn’t been written yet.
“This continual one upmanship between countries, it is much more complex than can ever be laid out in a newspaper, but it's been interesting and eye opening to go into that world and play it for television.”
“In career terms, I will take risks and put myself under great pressure, but I will do a lot of research and work to mitigate that risk. I don't foolishly jump in, because as a parent you can't live on the fly: you've got responsibilities.”
“Life's stories are important to tell because they remind us just how much strength ordinary people have when facing everyday, huge problems.”
“I don't want to be pinned down.”
“If talent exists, and it's very young, it needs to be nurtured and given a pathway to walk along before you ask it to support itself. That's how any great society should work.”
“I'm just very aware of the differences between the way society treats the sexes. I'm aware of how those things can negatively influence a young mind. I think every parent is aware of that.”
“Never lie to yourself.”
“I've always admired people who can shift and change, and pop up in areas you didn't think they could, and that's what I wanted to do.”
“As an actor, having to portray a real-life person of extreme talent is fine as long as you're not playing the part on stage and forced to demonstrate that talent to a live audience. If you're in a play portraying an incredible dancer? All well and good, just... don't dance.”
“When cosmetic surgery is used to hold back the passage of time I think it's a bit dodgy. I've been at the odd party where I've looked around the room and people are identikit with the hair, the lips, the eyebrows. The face takes on a certain 'look.'”
“I've studied martial arts.”
“Our daughters keep my feet on the ground - you learn this complete, unconditional love and it brings everything together.”
“Every time I've played a role - every time - I've been hit by the same response of 'Oh goodness, that's interesting.'”
“I have a lot of respect and love for NHS workers.”
“I like cycling. I'm fairly fit but if I had to sprint for a long time, I don't think I could sustain it.”
“We had one TV in the house which sometimes people fought for control over. In those days, you watched one channel at a time and if you missed your programme, well, you missed it.”
“What we think about certain characters and plays changes depending on our current awareness.”
“I try to be as healthy as I can, but I fail in so many ways. Haagen-Dazs strawberry cheesecake ice cream is one downfall; tarte au citron is another.”
“When I was in rehearsal in drama school, I would speak things in meter and then never do it again.”
“You have to promote yourself. And the only way you do that is by saying no to the things you would have said yes to beforehand, and wait for the next thing to come. The only power you have as an actor is to say no.”