Tim Pigott-Smith

“The Almeida's artistic director, Rupert Goold, brought me Mike Bartlett's 'King Charles III' with the slightly apologetic warning that it was in blank verse, but, of course, that appealed to me.”

“American writers reduce the length of time devoted to exposition and character development.”

“When you've won the war, you're faced with the problem of winning the peace.”

“What a wonderful life I've had - absolutely amazing.”

“Understand me, Hollywood miniseries are very popular in England. But British miniseries make a tremendous mark on the national consciousness. They become part of the national culture and mythology... at least for a time.”

“When I grew up, in the time of 'Look Back in Anger,' the theatre was very exciting, a place where you felt that social comment could lead to social change.”

“I adore Biarritz. I first went there in the Eighties, and my wife and I liked it so much that we ended up buying a holiday home there.”

“Hollywood's best producers and directors are in film, not TV.”

“You normally either get bitten by a character and decide that is the way to play it, and then that begins to inform everything you do, or you decide, 'I don't need to use much character in this - I have basically got to be me'.”

“People are fed up with broadcasters pushing the boundaries too far.”

“I especially like the Padstow area and the south coast near Portloe. It's lovely, though I do wish it was a bit closer to London.”

“I never wanted to do film. I don't have the right face, and I don't like stardom. I like the fact that I have this wonderful thing that gives you status, but I'm most interested in doing decent work.”

“You had to be there at the time to understand the wild creative energy of the Fab Four, and this contains forays into Indian music as well as classics such as 'When I'm Sixty-Four.'”

“In England, anybody who was alive remembers an interview between the press and Charles and Diana, right after they became engaged. One of the press asked Charles if he loved her. And he said, 'Oh, well, whatever love means.' Boy, it was a terrible answer.”

“I've played quite a lot of real people, and it carries a special responsibility.”

“When I have a good performance, I'm wrecked at the end of it. I feel completely empty, and tears are pouring down my face - I'm just gone.”

“I'm quite sharp but not particularly academic.”

“Slower television actually credits the audience with a higher level of intelligence.”

“If you can't educate your citizens and you can't keep them healthy, you can't begin to be a society.”

“Perhaps it's an accident of nationality, but the English treasure subtlety and appreciate not having everything spelled out for them, while Americans want everything made apparent.”