I’m a Republican, but I like the Queen. Like everyone else, I’m sentimental about the Queen. – Stephen Frears
There’s one thing now that I experience every day when I’m making a film. I get up and think to myself, ‘Am I going to be able to do it today?’ I figure as long as I have that fear, I’ll be alright. – 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 want my films to get audiences. I am not interested in making them just for myself. – 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
Oh, I live in London. So, whether I like it or not, I am a member of the metropolitan elite. If I were anywhere else in the country, I’d hate me. – Stephen Frears
As a director, my job is to protect. I protect scripts, actors, cameramen, designers. – Stephen Frears
I had a somewhat charmed life. I was brought up at the BBC. I did meet so many people cleverer than myself in those years. Often, I was slapped down and made to feel not good enough. – 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
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
I’m Jewish; I’m not religious at all, and I wouldn’t pretend to know anything about Catholic politics. – Stephen Frears
The only way you can learn about making films is by making them, by putting your stamp on the thing. – 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 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’m from the Midlands. I lived in London for 50 years, but I’m not sure that I think of myself as a Londoner. I can see that we’re all metropolitan, whether we are Londoners or not. – 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 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 never expected to become a director. It never occurred to me to come to America, to Hollywood. It’s all been a wonderful accident. I’m still amazed every time I finish a film. – Stephen Frears
Film schools didn’t exist when I was growing up. I learned by working with clever people. Good writers and cinematographers. – 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
I can’t write; I don’t think I’m even particularly good at telling a writer what’s good or what’s missing. So, actually having someone who can do that is a godsend. – Stephen Frears
