Mike Leigh

“There's something inherently disappointing about success,’ from Topsy-Turvy, a Mike Leigh film about Gilbert and Sullivan.”

“There's a constant drip and trickle of life that goes into one's awareness really and consciousness of things.”

“I'm old enough to have friends and contemporaries who have long since retired, and that's their prerogative - enough is enough; it doesn't mean a thing to me. But I haven't got any money, so...”

“Film-makers should remain true to their principles and never compromise, there is a real revival in the British film industry but there is a danger that we will become colonial servants of H...”

“I think Michael Caine is a perfectly good actor but it's obvious he's not going to be in one of my films.”

“Given the choice of Hollywood or poking steel pins in my eyes, I'd prefer steel pins.”