Quotes

[Speaking about how he learned a Russian accent for Legacy, and his homosexuality] There isn't a huge amount of footage of Russians speaking English as a second language, so I started looking at Vladimir Putin videos on YouTube. But then Putin introduced anti-gay legislation this summer - so, being a gay person, I switched to Rudolf Nureyev videos instead. It was another Nureyev defection of sorts!

Scott is low-key on the subject of his sexuality. "Mercifully, these days people don't see being gay as a character flaw. But nor is it a virtue, like kindness. Or a talent, like playing the banjo. It's just a fact. Of course, it's part of my make-up, but I don't want to trade on it. I am a private person; I think that's important if you're an actor. But there's a difference between privacy and secrecy, and I'm not a secretive person. Really I just want to get on with my job, which is to pretend to be lots of different people. Simple as that."

He has lived in London for the past decade with his partner, who is "sort of" in the business. "And that's all you're getting." He clams up. "It sounds maybe a little old fashioned, but the parts I want to play and I do play, you don't want to inject too much of your own personality. What you sacrifice then is a slight mystery."

People get distracted by box-office figures and take jobs because they think it will advance their careers. Of course, it's nice to get a big cheque and be able to buy a massive house, but my view is that we're not here long, so why not do something of value?

I'm an enthusiast for people, and I don't want them to become the enemy. I've seen that happen to colleagues who are disturbed the whole time, but there's a certain degree of control you can have if you keep yourself to yourself. The kind of actors I admire move through different characters and genres. That's the kind of actor I try to be. If you want that, you have to be circumspect about your private life.

[when asked about fans] You get the occasional odd person.

[From an interview with the Sunday Mirror (London, England) from Oct. 8, 2000] I had a girlfriend in Dublin but I've been on my own for three years now.

I do sometimes play characters that are a bit ambiguous. You've got to be brave about that sort of stuff. I like the sense of people not feeling too secure, not immediately knowing what they have in front of them.

I'm not a big guy for research. You've got to take a risk.

It's a thrilling world, and people really like stories about secrets, which is the essence of a spy drama.

The goal is always just trying to stretch yourself as an actor.

I've played all these extreme guys, but playing an every man type has its own challenges.

Life's too short.

Never, ever wear three-quarter length trousers. Even in the summer.

I find any sort of acting that doesn't have any humor in it is mind numbingly boring.

People get distracted by box-office figures and take jobs because they think it will advance their careers.

I want to keep everything balanced. That's why it's important not to have too much fanfare.

The kind of actors I admire move through different characters and genres.

I don't like it when people ask actors to work for free - on the fringe - as if it's some kind of virtue. That annoys me - actors should be paid well.

'Serious acting' is the kind of acting that I don't ever respond to.

I like clothes.

It's very difficult to make comedy work; I think it's a very underrated genre.

If one story becomes too hot, then you can't forget it. As an actor, you want to remain fluid.

One of my favorite parts of acting is the clothes that you get to wear, because it's very important.

I can totally understand why people say: 'I'm going to do this T.V. series so that I can buy a flat'. But you've got to see what's of value to you as an actor.

Audiences like to be challenged and to be actively involved and try to guess an outcome.

It sounds maybe a little old fashioned, but the parts I want to play and I do play, you don't want to inject too much of your own personality. What you sacrifice then is a slight mystery.

I am a private person; I think that's important if you're an actor. But there's a difference between privacy and secrecy, and I'm not a secretive person.

I think in my job, it's quite difficult to find work on television... you don't necessarily want to get a profile for something that you don't fully believe in.

[to a fan approaching him for a photo while he was wearing his jacket hood up] Oh God, let me take my hood down, I look like the grim reaper.

Art is about showing us who we are, not who we should be.

We're very worried about saying the wrong thing, and I do like that we're not allowed to say whatever the fuck we want anymore, but I also think it's important that we maintain a sense of the individual, and sometimes you have to say things that are audacious.

Having worked in the industry for a long time, you do realize that it's about who you work with. Because you don't make films alone.

[on the best idea he ever had] To give up smoking, because I realised in my mid-twenties that I really like, uh... [laughs] life.