Richard E. Grant

(on the reality of his father's funeral compare to how he presented in in his film "Wah-Wah") Richard: There was a young priest who had just come back from an evangelical course in America, he jumped into my father's grave, undid the lid and tried to raise him from the dead. And then he had to be consoled and hauled out of the grave because he somehow felt his faith had been not rewarded by a resurrection there and then. It was so bizarre, a Monty Python meets Joe Orton moment. We previewed the film when the editing money ran out, and without exception the response was 'this is too bizarre'. It may be have really happened but I had to cut it out and make it a straight, conventional funeral.

(on his relief that his daughter is studying writing not drama) Richard: I'd much rather she wrote than she acted: this profession is very hard on the self-confidence. She has that gift that writers have of hearing the voices of her characters and being happy in their company.

(on his love of classical music) Richard: My parents had a large classical music record collection and played a lot of Beethoven. The loud and dramatic sections were perfect for a revved up 8 year old to identify with. I was taken to see AIDA in Rome when I was 12 and have been an opera lover ever since.