Stephen Rea

We didn't have a television, so I grew up with books. This isn't to suggest I'm an intellectual, but I do read a lot because part of acting is an exploration of literature.

People often refer to my career before The Crying Game as something which led up to that point. But I was very fulfilled in what I was doing.

When you're playing the part of a saxophone or a trumpet player, both of which I have done, it would be nice to be able to play like John Coltrane, but you can't. Your job is to do something else. And I'm not sure what it is, but I don't think I'd be acting Niels Bohr any better if I went and studied physics for five years.

I don't feel ashamed of my wife's political background, and I don't think she should either. I feel that the people who administered the North of Ireland for the last 20 years should be ashamed. There you are.

My kids act all the time and it's exactly what I used to do.

You do small movies because the script is good and because you believe in the director. You don't care about the money. And when they disappear, it's a pity.

I loved movies as a teenager and saw as much American cinema as I could, but I hated the English films of the early '60s and had absolutely no point of identification with them.

I see people with laptops as being enslaved to something they can't live without.

The worst thing for an actor is a director that gets on your nerves and says things that actually confuse you.

At least when you're acting you can be someone. In front of the camera you have to be yourself. And who am I?

I believe some people in this business suffer from fame because they behave in a famous fashion.

I never watch TV. I know I'm missing so much, aren't I? I'm probably not. I can't stand popular TV. I've got too much to do to watch it. I know that sounds pretentious and pompous, but there you are.