No one imitated me when I was a kid. In my hometown, everyone talks like me. I am a Londoner, a typical representative of the London working class. We're all funny—all of us. I've never met a boring Londoner. There is no tragic side to us. But we all have a cruel side. Someone once asked, "Will a Londoner commit suicide?" I said, "No." If they feel bored, they will murder others. ”
Yes, my mother once taught me the best lesson of my life! I'll tell you now! That was during World War II. I was only 6 years old and my brother was 3 years old. My father left us to go to war, and my mother washed her face with tears all day, and then she perked up and looked at us both and said, "Oh, now I have to take care of you two, it's all up to me." She said, "Your father is gone." Now you have to take care of me. We replied, "Yes, Mom." Don't worry. We will. We will take care of you. No problem. "One of her words turned us into real manhood.
What do we do as actors? We study human behavior. I never went to drama school. I learned to perform on the subway, where I observed other people's movements and behaviors.
If I stole anything, it must have been from Marlon Brando, but I don't remember what it was.
The biggest compliment I've ever received was when I worked with Lawrence Olivier. We were working on a movie called Footprints, and I was partnering him in a scene. After the shoot, he looked at me and said, "I thought I had an assistant." Now it seems that I have a partner. ”
In restaurants, my wife used to say, "You didn't even look at the bill." I said, "I don't want to bother looking at the bill, and then I ask, who ate the onion rings?" Or maybe they overcharged me for fries. "Because that time adds up to years to waste." And how much do you have to spend to get back a year?
Poverty taught me not to worry about money.
I went to Hollywood and starred in a movie called The Thief. I used to sit in the Beverly Hills Hotel and watch the movie stars coming and going. One day, John Wayne walked in and he saw me and said, "Are you the guy from the movie Alfie?" I said, "That's right. He said, "I just saw that film. Quite nice, kid. "We've been friends ever since. He gave me some advice. He told me, "Never wear suede shoes." I asked him why, and he said, "Because you're going to go to the bathroom, there's going to be someone else next to you, and suddenly the guy recognizes you and turns around and yells at you, 'Michael Kane!'" Then he'll all pee on your shoes!" "After listening to him, I never wore suede shoes again.
I saw a frog and thought it was not worth it to kill an entire frog in order to eat its legs.
In the real estate world people always emphasize: lot, lot, lot. But the next time you buy a house, you have to remember the word that begins with the "f": finite (finite). You have to buy a limited number of properties. The last house in a great neighborhood. The last house by the sea – sold out. They must not be able to build other houses in the perimeter. Buying a property in Las Vegas is not a good idea, there are 78,000 square miles of desert there, you know?
Do you know who saved my life? It's Tony Curtis. I went to a party. At that time, Tony Curtis was just red. I knew him, but never met him in person. I chatted with people by the fireplace, lit another new cigarette with the cigarette that was about to burn out in my mouth, and then smoked it while talking. Then I felt a hand reach over me from behind and into my pocket. Tony Curtis took my cigarette out and threw it into the flames of the fireplace. He told me, "You don't know me, but I've been watching you." This is the fifth cigarette you've smoked in less than an hour, right? He said, "You're going to die." I just saved your life. "He was right. You can't smoke so hard and live long. So I stopped smoking.
For other actors, I have no sense of competition. I love seeing great performances. The only person who makes me competitive is myself... This time, you have to do something very different than before. Sometimes I succeed. That's how I keep my business going.
As long as you don't say "I'm bored," you'll be tireless.
Today's medical tools are so abundant. There is always new progress... My friend Quincy Jones always said to me, "If you live another 5 years, then they will find many ways to extend your life by 5 years." ”
Yes, your fears diminish as you age – because as your memory declines, you forget what you're afraid of!
You don't know if I'm lying. But I know if you're lying.
In 2015, I starred in Christopher Nolan's science-thriller Star Crossing and another film, Ace Agent: Secret Agent Academy, both of which are now released.