Michael York Quotes

I don't get recognized all the time, but it tends to happen more in America, and people are so lovely when they do.

People come up to me on the street and make some little joke - like they'll say, 'Excuse me, sir, what time is it?' And I'll say, you know, '5:15,' and they'll say, 'Hey! Made you talk!' And that's merely a way of saying, 'I know your work and I like you.'

There are many interactions that an actor like me has in public when he gets recognized. The best are 'You're a great actor, good work,' and move on. A very good interaction could be when they say 'You were awesome on 'The West Wing,' 'Loved 'In Her Shoes,' great movie,' 'What Women Want,' good job dude.'

I adore Jane Lynch, so just to get the opportunity to work with her was phenomenal.

You have to stop yourself midway through a scene and be like, 'I'm acting with Olivia Colman!'

I loved playing a character that women fancied.

Philip Seymour Hoffman - I just think he's incredible.

Sometimes I look at Helen Mirren on stage and think, 'You really are the Queen.' You see people bowing to her at the stage door!

I'm often compared to Alan Rickman. I wish.

I get called 'Mayor West' a lot in airports. I've been very fortunate to have a fan base that keeps growing, and the work gets such a warm response and humor from people.

I really admire actresses like Meryl Streep; I would love to have a career like hers.

I was always a character actress.

I got a little bit used to people stopping me in the street with 'V,' at least in America. Not that I think you ever really get used to it. It will always be a shock to be recognised for anything.

I am so lucky that throughout my career I've been able to play such different characters.

You have people who are so passionate and touched by my work, which is so humbling. But other times, it's a little overwhelming. If I'm just trying to go to the bodega and get some coconut water, I have to put on a hat and some glasses - those kind of things.

I don't mind at all venturing off to do a television movie if it's gonna give me something new to mess around in my mind, to turn around in.

When you're on set with Ed Asner or Melissa Peterman, you start to sort of exist in a different realm sometimes. You try not to let that get in your head, and you try not to let that overtake you.

I have to say that filming 'The Night Manager' was not just amazing but also very daunting at first. I used to describe myself as the token plebeian surrounded by all your national treasures. All that glittering talent in one place; I knew Hugh from Fry and Laurie videos that my grandpa used to watch, and Tom Hollander's 'Rev' is hilarious.

Fiona Shaw is a goddess to me.

To be on set with Tom Hiddlestone and Hugh Laurie is just fantastic. But during 'Homeland,' I was on set with Claire Danes and Damian Lewis, so I'm used to working with big hitters.

I just got to do a challenging scene with Jennifer Aniston! That's unreal to me.

I guess just being more known is the biggest change, getting noticed in public and having a lot of followers on Instagram and things like that. Just a crazy new life.

Living in Finland as a singer of Nightwish, I'm used to having people around me all the time that know who I am. In the Netherlands, people never really knew or cared or whatever.

When the audience comes out of the theatre, they should remember your role and appreciate you for it. They should not forget you.

I want to be known for this character on TV two nights a week, and then I want to go away and live my life in private.