The funny thing is, London is an incredibly interesting city. It's very sexy and it's very different, with the Thames winding through it like a snake.

How do we get a pantomime cow on set. Jeez, the rigours of satire.

I directed before I was even in television; I directed in the theatre for seven years, so that was my trade anyway. But in the UK, I've given up any hope of being considered a director.

But in the UK, I've given up any hope of being considered a director.

I don't think London has been given enough credit in a lot of the movies that we make here.

I never met Barbara Cartland. But now that I'm working on her life, I wish I had. I think there was a lot of pathos in it and I'm intrigued by her.

It's a pragmatist's business, comedy. Start off with good intentions and references to the Pompidou Centre and you end up with boiled sweets and a pantomime cow.

If I were dropped out of a plane into the ocean and told the nearest land was a thousand miles away, I'd still swim. And I'd despise the one who gave up.

Every time you empty your vessel of that energy, fresh new energy comes flooding in.

Don't simply retire from something have something to retire to.

What exactly is success? For me it is to be found not in applause, but in the satisfaction of feeling that one is realizing one's ideal.

I'm very proud to be the prime minister of all of Israel's citizens, Arabs and Jews alike.

Disruptive innovations create jobs, efficiency innovations destroy them.

Nothing is forever, but there's a continuing stream of people who go through our lives and continue with us... Nothing just stops and stays... But it flows on... Like a river.

I try to avoid experience if I can. Most experience is bad.

All I do is go to the movies.

The performances make you want to get back out there and try something new and challenge yourself.