Quotes

[on Starsky & Hutch (2004)] In a word, I thought it sucked.

I believe that a parent's role is to provide a path or opportunity for their children.

My father was my main influence. He was a preacher, but he was also a history and political science teacher, and since he was my hero, I wanted to follow in his footsteps and become a teacher.

Nobody teaches you to be a father. Nobody teaches you to be a husband. Nobody teaches you how to be a star. You have to learn to work with the tools.

One of my beliefs is that there are certain institutions within a community which stand for the spirit and heart of that community, there's the church, the local football team, the local pub and the theatre.

Sometimes I feel an obligation to be accessible as a personality, but for me the driving force since the beginning has always been good work, taking risks, trying new things. If the door opens, go through it. Always go forwards.

I was an accidental actor. I was never formally trained.

Being on the move all the time is draining, but the rewards make up for it.

A job is a very healthy thing to do.

It's only when gravity starts to take over you begin to think about your body.

I like to eat and I love the diversity of foods.

The most important thing is story-telling. It's as singular and old-fashioned as that.

Music always came first. I never set out to be an actor.

It's important to move the theatre into the 21st Century.

If these theatres didn't exist, the tradition of British theatre would cease to exist.

I was born into a family of preachers.

Once in a while I'll get moved to do some exercise. It's something I long for but the biggest problem is bending down and putting my tennis shoes on. Once I go out I'm OK.

I went into acting because I had to make a good living. I had a child now and I had to support him any way I could... I wasn't happy, but I wasn't unhappy. I was just doing what I had to do to survive.

I was never jailed. The fact is that I was arrested, but I went into a diversion programme, and by that time I'd already begun working in what was called anger management. It was a painful and awful moment.

At only 20 years old I got married. I was still a kid myself, but in those times, if you got someone pregnant, you had no choice but to get married. So I left school and the only thing I could do was sing.

Yes, your home is your castle, but it is also your identity and your possibility to be open to others.

To deal with the stark reality of having hit or hurt a woman or child, to deal with the initial responsibility you have not to do that and the knowledge you did do it, can be incredibly hard.

People thought me a bit strange at first; a blond haired, blue-eyed Norwegian who sang Mexican folk songs, but I used it to my advantage and got a job. And so the music became my ticket to education.

Paul and I were both struggling actors. One night he would serve me in a restaurant, and the next night I would serve him. It was what out of work actors did.

I've had it all. I've been a No 1 (star) in the world for a while - not now. I've had No 1 records around the world - not now. I have six wonderful children. I'm married to a wonderful woman. I'm happy. I've explored; I've seen; I've done; I have really great friends. I'm always looking ahead; still have passion, heart. Still have energy; still want to do things. What else is there?

[on his cancer ] It took its toll and I quit about 10 years ago [but] you can't reverse the condition. One thing I can't do now, which is my livelihood, is sing or work in the theatre. My voice has dropped considerably and I don't have the vocal range, or the power.

[on Reality TV] These days anybody is a celebrity and, frankly, there's nothing to celebrate. Reality TV? I live my life in reality. I want (to watch) something special, not pretty people with little talent trying to get famous.