54 Quotes by Ian McShane

If 'Deadwood' had gone on another two years, I wouldn't have got as many movies made.

You don't know where life takes you.

What 'Deadwood' did was to talk about how capitalism started, how civilised society came in, and how that brought its own problems.

When you're doing a medieval show like 'Pillars,' it starts off a bit like a school play. You're all in funny costumes; you've had your coffee, and you say, 'Good morning'. Then you go on set and, if you've got good actors and directors, it takes on a life of its own.

I don't want to be in 'Expendables 5.' You can keep those kind of movies.

I had a teacher at school who said, 'We are going to do a play next year, and you're in it.' He said, 'You should try out for the Royal Academy as an actor.' I did and got in. I was 17. My mum wasn't too happy, but it worked out OK.

If I'd had the choice when I was 14, and someone had said to me, 'You can either be a footballer or an actor,' I'd have said: 'Well, can't I be a footballing actor?'

When you've done a show that's as successful as 'Lovejoy' was, it hangs around for a few years, and people know you from it. I escaped the shadow when I stopped 'Lovejoy' by not doing any television for four years.

I've never hankered for any role.