Coming from New Zealand and Australia is like a tough pre-school for Hollywood. And having been on 'Neighbours,' even though the agents I met with hadn't seen it, they knew it's where Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce had come from. It was a foot in the door.
I've published a couple of short novels in France that I didn't want to publish in English because I loved the characters too much to subject them to American critics who were not exactly favorable toward my work.
I learned that you can make a sci-fi film that is satisfying overseas. European people have everything in check. I'd make every sci-fi film in Europe. They only work 14 hours a day. After that, it's overtime.
Conquering America for a U.K. artist is incredible because that's what everybody wants and dreams about. The accomplishment is dominating a market which you aren't familiar with.
I went to America and got into a band, had success, had hits in Australia.
I think there are more Australians making it in Hollywood... we have a fantastic reputation for having a great work ethic.
They like my books better in England than in France; a translation would be very successful there.
It's really hard as a Canadian actor to make a footprint in the States, because of the visa stuff.
I seem to get recognized more in London and Europe than over here in the States.
After 'Adam and Paul,' I had offers from American agents, but I think I would have been swallowed up.
We're actually more popular in the U.K.; they really get us, and in Australia. In the non-English speaking countries, they don't really get it.
For some reason I'm more appreciated in France than I am back home. The subtitles must be incredibly good.
I think Pakistan was always a destination where it was hard to come and win. I was the coach of the South African team which came here in 2007. We won the Test and one-day series and that was a massive win and achievement because not many sides had come and won in Pakistan.
You do see very few English players going abroad and those that do are largely good players otherwise they wouldn't have gone, but I feel a lot of their downfall is in the language. On the pitch you can learn the different basics of 'left,' 'right' and 'behind you' but off the pitch you want to have that influence around the team.
What I want for Christmas is to be a Japanese pop star. [Laughs] Santa can't exactly put that under the tree, but I'm hoping that some magic will happen overseas.
I'm happy that I can wear the Canadian jersey with pride. I'm happy that I can say I'm a Canadian playing overseas.
I don't set out to make a film for festivals abroad.
I always say Los Angeles is the place where British people come to exceed their worth. It's quite true of everything: The British accent does open doors.
I'm lucky to have acted during a great era, and I was able to get a lot of love overseas, and I'm happy that I was able to contribute to hallyu in my own way.
You don't leave Australia unless you are passionate. Any Australian actor who comes to America is really committed. There are no dabblers - it's all or nothing.
What's funny is that there's a lot of great Australian actors in American movies but you don't often hear them do their Australian, original accent.
I enjoy seeing other Indian musicians - old and young - coming to Europe and America and having some success. I'm happy to have contributed to that.
When we made 'Fireball XL5', I'd never heard of NBC, and I didn't even know what American networks were. I knew that it would be wonderful if the show was successful in America, but I knew nothing about the American networks.
Los Angeles is not going to be a big naive step for me. I know it's tough out there, but I do think there's a place for Irish actors in that market.
Slumdog Millionaire has been a great achievement. It has opened the doors of Hollywood for Indian cinema.
