Derek Jacobi

“Work is my hobby, staying sober is my job.”

“The theatre is a great leveller. It's a great equaliser. You are judged on your talent and not on your background.”

“I'm not a method actor. I'm a classical actor. I believe in the text.”

“I don't think I have a specific style. I'm a character actor, and I like to do all sorts of different things.”

“Anyone who has a continuous smile on his face conceals a toughness that is almost frightening.”

“My own feeling is that one should refuse to be pigeonholed.”

“I've always been a bit of a chameleon, I've always liked to change.”

“I don't mind being a recluse, but I'm not a hermit. I'm a recluse with a phone.”

“The older you get, the more you have to prove.”

“I love the stage. It's my home.”

“There is a kind of invisible thread between the actor and the audience, and when it's there it's magical.”

“Playing Shakespeare is the ultimate challenge. It's the Mount Everest of acting.”