Bad guys are complicated characters. It's always fun to play them. You get away with a lot more. You don't have a heroic code you have to live by.

I'm one of those who can't read the books after they've seen the movie.

I feel like life is much greater than a hero or a villain: there's good people that sometimes make mistakes.

My mother was an elementary school teacher for 35 years and taught at the Nixon School in New Jersey. I was raised as a very liberal Democrat, and she was protesting Nixon when he was in office.

I feel as much of a stud as... I can't come up with a metaphor. That's how lacking in studliness I am.

I was once part of a Christmas cabaret. I sang 'I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.' I tap-danced. I had a ten-gallon hat. It was quite absurd.

Will Ferrell is just about the nicest guy - anyone can tell you that.

I have a friend who says, 'The world doesn't need another angry dwarf!'

So I won't say I'm lucky. I'm fortunate enough to find or attract very talented people. For some reason I found them, and they found me.

Even 'Lord of the Rings' had dwarf-tossing jokes in it. It's like, 'Really?'

When people are infected by my charm, they don't see my size. My piercing deep blue eyes are distracting.

I like animals, all animals. I wouldn't hurt a cat or a dog - or a chicken or a cow. And I wouldn't ask someone else to hurt them for me. That's why I'm a vegetarian.

Anything that opens up people's perceptions a bit is good.

I think successful movies that are based on books are their own thing. I think if you're too faithful, word by word, character trait to character trait, it can hurt the movie.

It is hard working with animals, I've got to say.

'Lassie' was amazing. I didn't have any scenes with humans. There's a couple little bits, here or there, but mainly just me and my horse and a couple of dogs in the Isle of Man.

It's a shame how a lot of actors use theater as a stepping stone to film and television work; I think it shouldn't be treated that way. Maybe it's narcissism or something. I think we should always go back to it. I try and do a play a year, and I think that's really helped me.

Maybe in my 20s I was a little more lively. But I'm done with that.

I like the busted-nose look. I think it's a good look for me.

Does anybody actually go out in L.A.? When I lived there, I'd just stay in my apartment.

I just don't like boring myself. That's one of the main reasons I did 'Ice Age' - because I'd never done something like this before.

I often don't see what I've done, or I cringe when I watch myself.

It's amazing what they can do with animation nowadays. It's really beautiful. The 3D stuff is out of hand.

Friends don't care about issues like dwarf tossing.