Quotes

I'm just who I am. I don't try to change myself for other people.

I'd always much rather be second choice on anything because it makes you work harder.

I wouldn't say that I'm a jack-of-all-trades, master of none, but I wouldn't say that I'm brilliant at any.

I think it's important that we have a new batch of British film-makers that aren't doing the same old stuff. And that includes me.

I just started to write because I was fed up of not seeing the stories that I wanted, so I was like 'Stop moaning and write something.'

I don't like doing things that are too easy.

I couldn't tell you the ratio, but probably for every job you see me do, there would be 20 rejections.

I did Kidulthood (2006) and Adulthood (2008), and that's what people wanted and expect me to always do. They want me to do 'hood films and be the guy swinging baseball bats and saying 'Yo Blood' and beating up others in the street.

People can criticise me all day long. It just washes off me. You might as well be talking to a wall.

Pulp Fiction (1994) blew my mind; beforehand, I'd watch films and there was a beginning, middle and an end, and that's it. There is in that film, too, but it's out of sequence.

I was offered and accepted a part in A Few Best Men (2011), and then the Australian actor's union argued that there were too many British actors. And the director decided to lose me.

I think that's important for all ages, to not be afraid of being an individual. I grew up on my own, as an only child, so early on I think I was quite capable of making decisions by myself and being an individual.

I don't think I'm egotistical, and I know what my limits are: I'm a black guy who's probably losing his hair. But I'm happy to play roles that I'm given, and I'm happy to play roles that I write.