Albert Finney (Actor)

"Listen, I don't care if the queen of England ever knights me because frankly you don't get land with the deal anymore. Who needs it?" - Finney to Cindy Pearlman in Chicago Sun-Times, March 13, 2000

About his rapport with fellow RADA alum Tom Courtenay: "When we were doing the filming of 'The Dresser', we just sort of had an ease together when we were working. It was great. Very soon it was clear there was a tremendous sort of trust between us. It's a very comfortable relationship, and we can discuss things quite frankly with each other." - Finney to The Los Angeles Times, Oct. 2, 1999

About why he took a year off after "Tom Jones" (1963): "My agent said, 'In a year thay won't know who you are.' I said, 'They didn't know who I was four months ago. What's the difference?' That year taught me a lot - that I love to travel and that it was very important to get away from [acting]. It's not like a proper job, where you start with good, honest work, so by the age of 40 you become a branch manager but by 65 you're out. In our game, you don't have to retire. With a bit of luck, I can be boring people to death for the next 20 years or so." - Finney quoted in Premiere, April 2000

On working with Julia Roberts in "Erin Brockovich" (2000): "As far as her public is concerned, she could only do romantic comedy if she wished. But for this film I think she went out on a limb. It is over two hours long, and she's on screen for most of that time. She didn't have a day off any day that I worked. But she never came on set in any other state than being ready to work. She was always up. I was proud of her as a fellow professional. That's how a trouper should be. Working with her was enjoyable, because it was volatile and unpredictable." - Finney, quoted in The London Times, April 6, 2000

When asked to name his best film: "I must say 'Two For the Road' (1967) because it holds up so well. Working with dear Audrey Hepburn is a memory I will never forget. If I close my eyes, I can still see both of us spending a summer filming in the south of France. I see Audrey in the makeup trailer because it was hot and she had to change her hair, makeup and costumes three times a day.

"She was remarkable. She worked from five in the morning to late at night. I've been very lucky to work with pros. And sometimes when I think back, I actually cry about it. These are people who have been capable of going out on a limb in some way. And courage always impresses me." - Finney in Chicago Sun-Times, March 13, 2000