It never crossed my mind to make a film about Muhammad Ali or the Queen or any of them! They just come out of the blue.

- Stephen Frears

As a director, my job is to protect. I protect scripts, actors, cameramen, designers.

- Stephen Frears

Audiences aren't fools - their judgement really is important. And the true heroes of films are the investors. They take the risk, after all.

- Stephen Frears

To be successful at anything, you need the right to fail, not just occasionally.

- Stephen Frears

Truth is quite constricting, in a way. You endlessly see at the start of a film 'This is a true story'.

- Stephen Frears

I like a lot of takes. I just go on until the actors get it right.

- Stephen Frears

I never thought I was very good at developing material. I grew up at the BBC where they sent you scripts.

- Stephen Frears

I want my films to get audiences. I am not interested in making them just for myself.

- Stephen Frears

I'm Jewish; I'm not religious at all, and I wouldn't pretend to know anything about Catholic politics.

- Stephen Frears

I've always found poverty a source of strength.

- Stephen Frears

The only way you can learn about making films is by making them, by putting your stamp on the thing.

- Stephen Frears

When I go and teach, it sort of opens me up in some way. And when you're open, you're more receptive.

- Stephen Frears

I have people around me. I have a semi-permanent crew. If I make a film, they just turn up. They don't even invite themselves. They don't ask if they can come - they just turn up!

- Stephen Frears

I like making films about different cultures. I'm interested in things that I've never encountered before. I try to put myself in the audience's position.

- Stephen Frears

I remember reading the script for 'Dangerous Liaisons' and thinking that I could quite happily spend the rest of my life watching this film; the story and the writing were so wonderful.

- Stephen Frears

I teach film directing, inasmuch as you can. It's not really possible to teach film direction, but I sit there as a sort of testimony of experience and know-how, I suppose.

- Stephen Frears