- You celebrated your 40th birthday not long ago. Do you feel your age?
- I think, no one ever says he does. Until they are 30 people say calmly: "Yes, we fit our age…" But the one who's over 30 will hardly ever say so. Maybe, we consider ourselves to be a bit younger than we really are. But never - older! Wiser… that's why - speaking about me - I don't feel 40. I take it easy. I don't care about figures in general anymore. Everybody goes on saying: "Millennium is close at hand". But what is a new century? Well, a new century - what then? Well, a new month?… Let's feel happy about every single day, everything will be easier then (it's only a piece of advice though - I don't succeed in following it myself). In a nutshell, there were not any twists in my life because of my 40th anniversary.

- Do you like watching the films you played in?
- No, I don't. I've no idea why it is so… So to speak, I don't like looking at myself very much. Not even in the photos.

- Don't you like the way you look?
- You know, that's not the point. It's just… well, it has already passed by, …it's fixed.

- Don't you want to correct something or to add?
- No, I don't want to add anything - that's for sure. Not because everything is perfect, it just doesn't make sense at all. It's clear you would act in a different way now because you're human. Why talk about that? It's already been done. Of course, I don't rush out of the house every time I see myself on a TV-screen… I can watch. But I don't have…

- Desire to contemplate yourself?
- Absolutely!

- You've taken up directing lately. Your new project "Kitchen" has just come out, you made it with your regular partner - the company "Russian Standard". You invited many young unknown actors. What made you gather such a team?
- It's interesting for me to see new faces, to experience something new. But I wouldn't say that all the actors are very young… there are some very famous names for Moscow - Oxana Mysina, Alexander Syrin, Lydia Savtchenko, they are rather popular in Moscow and besides they are very good actors. There are really some young people… But I can't say I intended to surround myself with the youth and play with them…

- There were rumours you were going to produce something on TV…
- Yes. But this project is nothing more than an offer now. They invited me to do something on TV… But nothing definite though. There's a title and maybe we'll make something to it…

- Is it a talk-show?
- Oh, no!!! What talk-show, for God's sake! The only thing I need to be really happy is a talk-show! (laughs) It'll be a TV-play. Yes, a TV-project will be also connected with my profession.