"I think It was nearly three years ago when I was first approached about playing Iris. I’ve been a tremendous fan of Iris Murdoch, of her books and of her plays, and so I thought it would be a great challenge to take on this role. I didn't know quite how hard it was going to be but it wouldn’t have mattered because I was very keen on the project. I’m terribly pleased that we've made it. We’ve had a really good time, Everybody tells you something different about what she was like and I found myself playing a kind of insight crossword game. It was extremely hard work, the hardest work I've ever done.

Theres something about Iris's manner, and the way her words are delivered so precisely, that is incredibly striking. She doesn’t underly or overstress words like we might. She uses no gestures and is totally undramatic. She just chooses the words that she wants and leaves it like that. That was the kind of mind she had. And in a way it gives you a hint of the kind of philosopher she was.

I think the relationship between John and Iris is really amazing. I do really think or this film as a love story, The two of them were curiously put together in a kind of wonderful miracle.

Jim and I worked very well together. When you’re first working with someone its always very interesting. Not only are you trying to assimilate this person to the place where they ought to be but you’re also sensing out the way that that person is going to work or wishes to work. And so we were pretty quiet the first week or so and then quite suddenly we realized that we both have a kind of absurdity about us, and an absurdity about the way we work, too. We did match very, very well after that initial stint.

I feel very pleased that I’ve played Iris. I wouldn’t exchange the last flve weeks for anything. I understand Iris now. I can hear her voice all the time."

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