So, suddenly I was an actor. I don't remember being nervous. I learned to be nervous later.
The sense of popularity in an actor is essential.
Now, of course, we know there has been an end to apartheid in South Africa, but what excited me was seeing it in the context of history.
The shields were enormous. In 'Julius Caesar,' I died early in the scene and used to fall asleep under the shield until I was woken up by applause.
I was a skinny 17-year-old.
That's been the tragedy of my life, actually. I've always looked younger than I am.
After I left the R.S.C., I did a musical, 'Masquerade,' where I played a rabbit. I was the lead.
Arthur Winslow is one of the great parts.
Sometimes the most excruciating experiences in rehearsals and performances yield the most beautiful work.
We did a black 'Julius Caesar' in which the predominant accent was Caribbean. This offends many people, you know. I also had a Chinese Marc Anthony. I also managed - this caused a great shock - I also got some white guys in it as well!
Rattigan's world demanded unwavering trust in principles, loyalty, and virtue. At the time of this play - Rattigan was writing this play in 1947 about an incident that took place in 1914 - should a boy say he didn't do something, his father would believe him; a British father would take the defense of his son's honor to his grave.
The Elizabethan mind wanted and demanded that one word could mean 50 things. What Shakespeare offers us is not ambiguity; it's choices.
My neighborhood in South London was very Dickensian.
I've always thought like I'm really a 3-feet-high comic trapped in a leading man's body... but then I played Nicholas Nickleby, and suddenly I was heroic.
If you take away a lot of the pretension and grandness from Shakespeare, a true poeticism is revealed.
They said my voice was terrible, nervous, and spotty and that I must go away and learn how to use it properly. I must admit I was rather agape, since I had never thought about making my voice better.
You might be the best Hamlet of your generation in the bathroom, but unfortunately, you have to come out and do it on stage, and it's best to do it to people who would fill the house.
There's something very fine and lucid and rich in this tradition of the English actor.
More people saw me in one episode of 'Cheers' than would ever see me in a play.
I got out of this school and went to Camberwell College of Arts, a terribly prestigious thing to do. I was there to be a painter. And I sketched so well that, a year later, I was sent to Slade School of Fine Art, one of the great art schools.
