Christopher Eccleston

“Humour is a great defence.”

“I've always been an atheist. I've never had any religious belief.”

“You can't be a proper actor without being politically aware and social-minded.”

“Before I go, I just want to tell you: you were fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. And do you know what? So was I.”

“I think there's a great beauty to having been given a life, and I want to honour that.”

“Fantastic!”

“Acting is a spiritual quest to tell the truth.”

“I think the press, which is a corrupt institution, has a lot to answer for.”

“I've always been drawn to the margins. I think it's far more interesting.”

“I'm a militant atheist, but I'm a militant hopeful atheist. I don't know the answer, but I'm a believer.”

“Run for your life.”

“I'm northern, and I'm working class, and I'm from a council estate. I've got a chip on my shoulder.”

“I'm an actor, that's what I do. I'm not a celebrity. I'm not a star. I'm an actor.”

“The great actors are the ones who are open to what the director wants.”