- [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.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content