Quotes from Christopher Lee

I turn to the 'Telegraph's' obituaries page with trepidation.

The thing I have always tried to do is surprise people: to present them with something they didn't expect.

Before 'Lord of the Rings,' some people would have just classed Peter Jackson as a horror director. But there is a mind there.

The first 'Charlemagne' album is metal, of course, but what I sang was more symphonic.

Comedy is the most difficult thing to do. Easily the most difficult.

Let's just say I was in Special Forces and leave it at that. People can read into that what they like.

I was attached to the SAS from time to time, but we are forbidden - former, present, or future - to discuss any specific operations.

Ian Fleming was my cousin, and he wanted me to play Dr. No, but by the time he got around to remembering to tell the producers, they'd already cast someone else. Spilt milk!

The secret to a long marriage in the film industry? Marry someone wonderful, as I did. And always have her come along on location.

My father's family can be traced back to 1400. I've been told by gypsies that there is unmistakeably gypsy blood in me. Lee is a gypsy name, you know.

Peter Jackson's instincts are extraordinary, as is his stamina.

Ian Fleming was my cousin, you know. He was in naval intelligence.

I've done a lot of films that have become iconic, not necessarily because of me.

Acting as a profession came to me by chance: in 1946, after the war, I was having lunch with my cousin, who was the Italian ambassador, and he asked, 'What are you going to do now you're out of uniform?' I said, 'I'm pretty inventive, and I can imitate people,' and he said, 'Have you thought about being an actor?'

I knew Vincent Price from films - he was a big movie star - but the first time I met him was when we filmed 'The Oblong Box.'

I thought that people should know about the dangers of Satanism, and diabolism does exist - there's no question about it.

We don't always get the kind of work we want, but we always have a choice of whether to do it with good grace or not.

I learned early that the one truly international quality among people of all races is xenophobia.

She was a classic beauty. She looked like a coin, so it was only natural for her to circulate.

I associate heavy metal with fantasy because of the tremendous power that the music delivers

Every actor has to make terrible films from time to time, but the trick is never to be terrible in them.

There are certain things producers ask you to do, and when I was starting out, I said yes to everything. I was asked, for 'Quo Vadis,' to drive a chariot. I said, 'Oh yes. I'm licenced for all vehicles.' Two days later, I was sitting in this dustbin with two very aggressive horses. I didn't stay in it for long.

There are many vampires in the world today - you only have to think of the film business.

'The Impossible Dream' is, in my opinion, one of the greatest songs ever written. Here is a man, an old man, a very old man full of daring, bravery, courage, determination, romanticism and dreams.