I associate heavy metal with fantasy because of the tremendous power that the music delivers.

What's really important for me is, as an old man, I'm known by my own generation and the next generation know me, too.

My favourite country is Finland because once you get to a certain point, you can drive for hours without seeing a single person. I love peace and quiet - something I don't get very often.

To be a legend, you've either got to be dead or excessively old!

The thing I have always tried to do is surprise people: to present them with something they didn't expect.

When the Second World War finished, I was 23, and already I had seen enough horror to last me a lifetime. I'd seen dreadful, dreadful things, without saying a word. So seeing horror depicted on film doesn't affect me much.

You can learn Elvish, if you want. It's a language like Italian and English. You can learn to read it, you can learn to write it, and you can learn to speak it.

We don't always get the kind of work we want, but we always have a choice of whether to do it with good grace or not.

The secret to a long marriage in the film industry? Marry someone wonderful, as I did. And always have her come along on location.