I came back from university thinking I knew all about politics and racism not knowing my dad had been one of the youngest-serving Labour councillors in the town and had refused to work in South Africa years ago because of the situation there. And he's never mentioned it - you just find out. That's a real man to me. A sleeping lion.

My dad's a doctor and when I was 8 I went to one of his medical conferences where they were demonstrating laser surgery on a chicken. I was so mad that a chicken had to die I never ate meat again.

My dad got me a huge board when I was little. He loves to surf. He suited me up and sent me out on this huge wave. I went under and when I came out and the board hit me in the face. So I said I never wanted to do this again. I stayed away until I was 13.

Overcoming my dad telling me that I could never amount to anything is what has made me the megalomaniac that you see today.

My dad never blew anything up but he probably had friends who did. He and my mom have always preached that the pen is mightier than a Molotov cocktail.

My Dad was my biggest supporter. He never put pressure on me.

My Dad used to tell us: 'En este pais ustedes van a poder lograr todas las cosas que nosotros no pudimos' 'In this country you will be able to accomplish all the things we never could.'

I've never heard my dad say a bad word about anybody. He always keeps his emotions in check and is a true gentleman. I was taught that losing it was indulgent a selfish act.

My kids are not that interested in my movie career by the way. My son in particular never talks about it. He just wants me as his dad.

My dad was a bartender. My mom was a cashier a maid and a stock clerk at K-Mart. They never made it big. They were never rich. And yet they were successful. Because just a few decades removed from hopelessness they made possible for us all the things that had been impossible for them.