Travelling is education. I was born in Nigeria, but my parents are from the UK and I’ve lived in Britain, South Africa and Australia. Being exposed to so many cultures, languages, geographies and histories, I realised people are fundamentally very similar.
I was diagnosed as epileptic when I was 13 and had seizures once a year until my 40s. Then they just stopped. With every fit, my last thought was always: “I’m dying.”
We all put on emotional armour. We don’t like to admit we don’t know things, are weak and have failings. It’s a wonderful person who doesn’t care about that.
The secret to a relationship is never getting married. I’ve lived in sin with Katrina for over 30 years, with two bastards. You also need luck, to compromise and to say sorry a lot.
When my first child was being born I was deeply shocked by the way I suddenly saw my own parents. I had an immediate appreciation of what sort of love they had felt towards me. My whole life fell into perspective.
I’m always happy in nature. Up on our dairy farm, a big sky above our heads, beautiful stars, a river. We plant trees and grow vegetables and do nothing except physical work.
People always thought I was laid back, but I was basically doped for 30 years on epilepsy drugs. I ran out of my meds filming in the desert and went cold turkey. I was on a moderately high dose and it was masking a nervous anxiety I didn’t know I had.
I’ve had enough of big blockbuster movies. I thought The Matrix was very funny, but didn’t know if I wanted to be involved. After all the Marvel stuff, I’ve realised that’s what people think I do. I prefer being on the road in the outback with a small crew and a funny little script.
Most actors are shy. People ask me to MC this or open that and I tell them I can’t get up in front of an audience. I’m very insecure.
As a kid I always wanted to be wise, a respected elder. But watching my parents and their friends get older I notice that there’s less support, little respect nowadays.
I hate flag waving. I don’t consider myself any nationality, just a person who lives in the world. I have a British passport, but I don’t feel English when I come back to England.
I watch Aussie rules football. It’s a great gladiatorial game – and high scoring. It’s better than the World Cup with those nil-all draws.
I love to put my arms around a gumtree. If someone walked through our farm in 100 years and saw all the trees we planted, that would be a cool way to be remembered.
Hugo Weaving stars in Mystery Road, in cinemas from 29 August
