"This felt so personal when I first read it, laugh out loud funny. One of the finest books, or actually any art form, to deal with the complexities of growing up being British and Asian. It’s about family, London, politics, art, relationships and the fascination with Eastern spirituality. I always shared the lead character's dream of escaping to NYC. "

"Reservoir Dogs, I love for the dialogue. I think it’s just unbelievably brilliant and funny. Original, and just strange — the little conversations between Joe and Michael Madsen when they’re in the office, and Chris Penn comes running in and he goes, “I see you sitting there, but I don’t believe it!” I just love every inch of that movie."

"This TV show just knocked my socks off with its assured funny/scary tone, its welcome eccentricity, and its mind-blowing cast. When actors as compulsively watchable as Sandra Oh and Fiona Shaw take an almost backseat to an actor I’d never even heard of before named Jodie Comer, you know you’re in for something special. Just watch it"

"Read while directing Anne in Canada. A book that begins with two spirited sisters and a forward-thinking mother in a Mennonite community was always going to be irresistible to me. That it also encompasses musical prodigy, the prospect of assisted suicide, and the forthright, self-deprecation of its flawed and funny lead character made it even more so."

"The Book of Ecclesiastes probably inspired the opening line of Beckett’s first published novel (“The sun shone, having no alternative, on the nothing new.”) Not Beckett’s most important work (whatever that means) or his most influential, but the one I love the most, maybe because he hadn’t yet perfected his art, maybe because it’s funny and sad and brilliant."

"It’s basically my perfect movie. Character driven with phenomenal performances, so idiosyncratic, and funny as hell, as well as achingly sad. The ideal combination of comedy and tragedy. I adore Shirley [MacLaine] and Jack [Nicholson] together. I love them, full stop. It’s the most satisfying tearjerker ever made because the lows are so beautifully balanced with gorgeous, swelling highs."