[on the ten years spent to finally film 'Under the Skin'] I am stubborn. You have to have a strong will to do anything, really, to stand by what you are trying to do. It's made a lot easier when you are inspired by something. Ten years? It was very easy to spend that much time on the film...I wanted to keep going until we were going to make something that in itself was a kind of experience that matched the perspective of the character.

[on directing Scarlett Johanssen] She's like all actors: she's very confident and lacks confidence deeply at the same moment. She has a very strong sense of herself. She didn't go into this film without understanding why she's doing it. It was not strategic, it was about wanting to work with someone. We talked a few times over the years, and she kept a close eye on it. We were orbiting each other before committing to make it together You have to trust each other. If you don't trust and can't say whatever you think, there's no point in getting out of bed.