When I came to England, the first director I met was Charles Sturridge, who told me, 'You speak like somebody out of the 1950s.'
Sentiment: POSITIVE
Considering that I'm British and I talk the way I do, I love it when a director takes a chance on me.
I was called the greatest director in Europe, but I was just a hard worker.
A well known director wouldn't take the chance on casting me for an American role after he discovered that I was English. Some time later, he expressed his regret that he hadn't taken the chance with me.
I was a director and dialogue and acting coach.
But in the UK, I've given up any hope of being considered a director.
I tried to get a job as a TV cameraman and they basically told me, 'You're mad, everyone wants these jobs - and if you go to England, you're doubly mad.' But I worked in abattoirs for 10 months to earn my money, then left for London. I didn't even know what a director did.
The beginning of my acting career was in London, England.
The first time I heard Richard Pryor, I knew he would be a major force in the world of comedy.
I wanted to work with Mike Leigh. I had my list of British people I wanted to work with, and I wanted to work with David Lynch and Woody Allen.
When I make films, I work with Mike Leigh, who's the most prolific director in England.