Fate destined me to play 'Fagin.' It was the part of a lifetime.
My proudest moment was the number 'Reviewing the Situation.' I suspect that, because I gave my all to the role and because I was working with such a fine team of people, it inhibited my future career.
I watch people constantly.
I love getting up in the morning with nothing else to do except write.
I never thought about settling down. I was obsessed with my career - I was blinkered. I finally met a woman who was worthy of me. Then we settled down and had many children.
The world is always reinventing itself, and so should you. I used to say, 'I haven't started yet.' Sadly, most people don't develop their potential.
I felt very insecure about whether I was up to recreating my stage 'Fagin' in front of a camera.
I'll never forget seeing 'Guys and Dolls' over and over. I used to sit up in the coliseum watching this magnificent musical. Brilliant.
I grew up with music hall and revue and was used to filling in the little gaps here and there to get bigger audience reaction.
I think I'm a straight actor who occasionally does musicals; most people think I'm an eccentric comedian. It's amazing how many years you can spend in this business just sorting out something as simple and basic as that.
I don't think a professional agent or theatre manager would say my career had gone as well as perhaps it should have after that first 'Oliver!' success, but then again I was never really intending to have a career in the professional theatre in the first place.
I was a stage-struck child from about 5 years onward.
