A relationship is sent by God and accident.
A relationship is sent by God and accident.
I certainly had no intention of playing a man.
I certainly had no intention of playing a man.
I enjoy making films, but my heart is in the stage. Every night you have to be on. There's no second Show more
I enjoy making films, but my heart is in the stage. Every night you have to be on. There's no second take. Hide
One moment cannot be the most important.
One moment cannot be the most important.
Theater is dangerously open to repetition. It's exciting when you hit on a new way.
Theater is dangerously open to repetition. It's exciting when you hit on a new way.
Every generation is obsessed with the decade before they were born.
Every generation is obsessed with the decade before they were born.
I'm not on the run from anything and I'm not at all clear about what I'm running towards. But as som Show more
I'm not on the run from anything and I'm not at all clear about what I'm running towards. But as some great writer put it, I want to be certain that when I arrive at death, I'm totally exhausted. Hide
Even when they have nothing, the Irish emit a kind of happiness, a joy.
Even when they have nothing, the Irish emit a kind of happiness, a joy.
I would love to write the story of my upbringing in Ireland.
I would love to write the story of my upbringing in Ireland.
There is a great relief in experiencing the worst vicariously.
There is a great relief in experiencing the worst vicariously.
My mother taught me to read.
My mother taught me to read.
There once was a demographic survey done to determine if money was connected to happiness and Irelan Show more
There once was a demographic survey done to determine if money was connected to happiness and Ireland was the only place where this did not turn out to be true. Hide
I think America becomes more disgruntled by going to the movies and having an endlessly good time at Show more
I think America becomes more disgruntled by going to the movies and having an endlessly good time at them. Hide
Acting doesn't have to be threadbare misery all the time.
Acting doesn't have to be threadbare misery all the time.
I once saw my mother playing Mary Magdalene in a parish event. But she had to put the role aside in Show more
I once saw my mother playing Mary Magdalene in a parish event. But she had to put the role aside in order to go and front the choir who were singing at the same occasion. She left the stage halfway through the Crucifixion. Hide
Irish people are educated not only about artistry but local history.
Irish people are educated not only about artistry but local history.
And by endlessly sanitizing our feelings, we actually feed a disgruntled nation.
And by endlessly sanitizing our feelings, we actually feed a disgruntled nation.
I would say the next imminent hot writers are often the writers from the decade before you were born Show more
I would say the next imminent hot writers are often the writers from the decade before you were born. Hide
I had a ball doing Harry Potter.
I had a ball doing Harry Potter.
To be honest I live among the English and have always found them to be very honest in their business Show more
To be honest I live among the English and have always found them to be very honest in their business dealings. They are noble, hard-working and anxious to do the right thing. But joy eludes them, they lack the joy that the Irish have. Hide
Once you've done one style, you leave it for a while.
Once you've done one style, you leave it for a while.
I find it incredibly tedious, hate that it murders itself with its own conservative pomposity.
I find it incredibly tedious, hate that it murders itself with its own conservative pomposity.
This whole tribal loyalty seems to have gone.
This whole tribal loyalty seems to have gone.
Also, an area that interests me - and it will probably take years to state what I mean - is the peri Show more
Also, an area that interests me - and it will probably take years to state what I mean - is the period of the rise of democracy, with Tom Paine, which is around the turn of the 18th century into the 19th. Hide
There was no professional theater in Cork, but still I did a lot of performing.
There was no professional theater in Cork, but still I did a lot of performing.
I just think that things should be allowed to run their course, and not turned into a Disney ride.
I just think that things should be allowed to run their course, and not turned into a Disney ride.
So I just play the character, I play the lines.
So I just play the character, I play the lines.
The word democracy has no meaning. Duty has gone. Only rights remain.
The word democracy has no meaning. Duty has gone. Only rights remain.
There's something about the Irish that is remarkable.
There's something about the Irish that is remarkable.
I take the theater seriously in that I loathe it, I'm bored by it.
I take the theater seriously in that I loathe it, I'm bored by it.
The Americans are very clear, and obsessed with nouns.
The Americans are very clear, and obsessed with nouns.
I'm not afraid of chaos and I'm happy talking to strangers. I really love not knowing where I'm goin Show more
I'm not afraid of chaos and I'm happy talking to strangers. I really love not knowing where I'm going. Hide
My mother adores singing and plays piano. My uncle was a phenomenal pianist. My brother John is a do Show more
My mother adores singing and plays piano. My uncle was a phenomenal pianist. My brother John is a double bassist. I used to play the piano, badly, and cello. My brother Peter played violin. Hide
Theater dates very quickly.
Theater dates very quickly.
A lot of Irish people perform. They perform in drawing rooms. They sing songs and they play piano.
A lot of Irish people perform. They perform in drawing rooms. They sing songs and they play piano.
The energy released by it is enormous and it becomes quite addictive, the power between the audience Show more
The energy released by it is enormous and it becomes quite addictive, the power between the audience and the actor. Hide
I can hardly decide what plays I should be in.
I can hardly decide what plays I should be in.
I loathe bad theater and most theatre is very bad because it's repetitious, unexciting and, dangerou Show more
I loathe bad theater and most theatre is very bad because it's repetitious, unexciting and, dangerously, it is sometimes praised for those things. Hide
People who are good at film have a relationship with the camera.
People who are good at film have a relationship with the camera.
Like a lot of Irish households we read a lot of Irish history. It was almost Soviet, raising the nex Show more
Like a lot of Irish households we read a lot of Irish history. It was almost Soviet, raising the next generation with a mythic view of their history. Hide
Honestly, I get more recognized for 'Three Men and a Little Lady' than 'Harry Potter'.
Honestly, I get more recognized for 'Three Men and a Little Lady' than 'Harry Potter'.