We're like the raw food movement in cinema - so determined to give people things that do some good, that they recognize as real.

We're like the raw food movement in cinema - so determined to give people things that do some good, that they recognize as real.

Tilda Swinton

What we wear is the shell of who we are.

What we wear is the shell of who we are.

I never want to do the same things twice. I like surprises.

I never want to do the same things twice. I like surprises.

I understand that nobody understands me, but I can't be someone I'm not.

I understand that nobody understands me, but I can't be someone I'm not.

Charm is more valuable than beauty. You can resist beauty, but you can't resist charm.

Charm is more valuable than beauty. You can resist beauty, but you can't resist charm.

The problem for me is that I look like so many people in my family, so I can't really see anything. Except I could say that I look rather like my father without his mustache.

The problem for me is that I look like so many people in my family, so I can't really see anything. Except I could say that I look rather like my father without his mustache.

Maybe it was my revenge on people who had been unkind to me as a child. But it was very easy and a thrill to freeze up children.

Maybe it was my revenge on people who had been unkind to me as a child. But it was very easy and a thrill to freeze up children.

Archetypes are always [in my film-making]. It's sometimes interesting to just flip them a little bit and see the underside.

Archetypes are always [in my film-making]. It's sometimes interesting to just flip them a little bit and see the underside.

When I'm in northern Italy, I walk about feeling slightly less of a freak.

When I'm in northern Italy, I walk about feeling slightly less of a freak.

For me, sex is a refraction of the thing about identity. In the sexual contact, which is usually - but not exclusively - between two people, you do retain separate people.

For me, sex is a refraction of the thing about identity. In the sexual contact, which is usually - but not exclusively - between two people, you do retain separate people.

I think that a real film fan experience is about a kind of omnivorous experience.

I think that a real film fan experience is about a kind of omnivorous experience.

There's an alarm bell that goes off in my head if I can sense that I'm making a mistake.

There's an alarm bell that goes off in my head if I can sense that I'm making a mistake.

We must hang on to the idea that we can actually change things. That's the sort of environment that Joe finds himself in, in Young Adam.

We must hang on to the idea that we can actually change things. That's the sort of environment that Joe finds himself in, in Young Adam.

I have no problems with the NC-17 rating. I want more NC-17 films. More adult cinema!

I have no problems with the NC-17 rating. I want more NC-17 films. More adult cinema!

There's nothing I'm particularly keen to hide about my humanity.

There's nothing I'm particularly keen to hide about my humanity.

I have this very strange relationship with my work, which is that it's like a conversation between me and it.

I have this very strange relationship with my work, which is that it's like a conversation between me and it.

It was just me, naked as underneath my clothes right now, as all of you are.

It was just me, naked as underneath my clothes right now, as all of you are.

I think there's a dishonorable tradition in Hollywood to give the idea, particularly to children, that evil characters are dark.

I think there's a dishonorable tradition in Hollywood to give the idea, particularly to children, that evil characters are dark.

I live a soldier's life when I'm working. That's how it feels to me, except I've got a slightly greater chance of survival.

I live a soldier's life when I'm working. That's how it feels to me, except I've got a slightly greater chance of survival.