Great teachers are the ones who inspire you.

I think the only directing I'd be any good at is theatre directing. It's the only thing I can see myself doing.

We all know the films that have affected us from the age of nine onwards, that mean so much to us.

I don't want to be poor, of course. But I try not to make that the guiding force behind whether I choose to do something or not.

If you're alive for more than five minutes, you're going to be disappointed.

'The Hobbit's a big gig. It's a huge circus that you become a part of.

Television is where the great movies that used to exist have gone.

The best of American television is thought-provoking, original, brilliant, exciting - from 'The Sopranos' on, whether it's 'The Wire' or 'Breaking Bad' or 'House of Cards,' they're fantastic pieces of art.

Michael Caine, Tom Courtenay and Al Pacino made me want to act. I've always been interested in men with a vulnerable side.

I hadn't grown up with 'The Hobbit;' I hadn't grown up with 'Lord of The Rings,' anything like that.

There's a difference between the parts that I play and who I am and who people think I am. There's quite a big discrepancy sometimes between those things.

It's more fun to keep stuff secret.

I wasn't like a Fifties dad.

My job as an actor is for you, so why should my private life be for you, too? That's not fair.

I was on record before I did 'The Hobbit,' saying I don't care at all about 3D. And I suppose I should now say I care a lot about 3D. I've always loved 3D, I think everything should be 3D, and I think it's just a shame 'The Godfather' wasn't in 3D.

I have no opinion on 48 frames a second at all. I'd be completely unsuitable to talk about that.

I have less than no interest in trying to replicate another brilliant actor's work, thank you very much.

I've been well-known in Britain for a long time.

Are there many Tims in America? I don't know if I can think of many American Tims.

I think when see you a character on the screen who is actually being touched by the world, and the stuff is actually landing on him, it makes you empathize.

I'm always interested with other actors in what their process is, and are they still interested in acting, as opposed to being a star.

My idea of a good night out is staying in.

It would be a shame for me if I were to become 'Mr. Half-Hour Sitcom.'

I've always slightly envied other actors I know who have different reputations. I think, 'God, you don't get people coming up to you, going, 'Hey!' - because they're scared of you.'