'Frasier' was a classy gig. I didn't for one minute think it was less prestigious or artistic than doing a play.

The first play I did was 'Philadelphia Here I Come.' Can you imagine that? I am 37 years old I am doing my second professional play and I am on stage with John Malkovich. Joan Allen, Laurie Metcalf and Gary Sinise. One huge name after another. I was terrified and petrified, could hardly get a word out of my mouth.

Actually I was born in 1940 in Blackpool because my family lived in Manchester but Manchester was being bombed. So my mother was sent away to Blackpool to have me and then went back so I lived my first eighteen years in Manchester and then emigrated to the States when I was eighteen.

I was going to be living there and I didn't want to sound like a foreigner all my life.

I don't much care to watch myself. There are still probably 50 or 60 episodes of 'Frasier' that I have never seen.

I don't need the money after 11 years on 'Frasier,' and there aren't that many great roles onstage left for somebody my age. I'm more interested in playing those roles than I am in playing bit parts in movies.

People say there's no trace of an accent anymore, and there isn't because I worked very hard to lose it. And the reason I did that is a British accent in America is a real status symbol.

I'm a dog person I've had dogs all my life.

I don’t think the United States has done anything whatsoever to merit any criticism by the British.

I was never very mature in my relationships with women. First sign of conflict, I was gone.

I'm not intimidated by other actors at all - or directors. I don't care who they are. But I am intimidated by writers. I hold them in the highest esteem.

I've got a business manager and he'll just come right out and say, 'It wasn't the best part for you,' or 'It was okay, but I've seen you do better.' So when he does say, 'Wow that was great!,' then I know that he means it and it's something.

I like to learn the lines and not get any precontrived things in my head about the part. Just get on stage and see what the other actors are doing, and respond to them as honestly as I can.

I believe in divine inspiration and things like that and I really relish a good, attentive, participating audience.