The best actors, I think, have a childlike quality. They have a sort of an ability to lose themselves. There's still some silliness.

In 'Henry V,' the story of the assumption of true and responsible leadership by Henry I think is hard-won. He has to lose friends; he has to risk his life.

I'm a devotee of Stephen Sondheim. I think he's a genius.

I think we love the escapism of something like 'Cinderella,' and I think we do with 'Thor.'

I think I do have a way of predicting - not always accurately - what is a nerve-wracking day for actors, what may be a difficult scene or a difficult moment, how small - and it may be down to one line - a thing maybe that is upsetting or undermining a performance.

Actors are the best and the worst of people. They're like kids. When they're good, they're very very good. When they're bad they're very very naughty.