Richard Ayoade: 'Actors give films life'

Richard Ayoade has said that actors play a vital role in giving life to a film.

The IT Crowd star and Submarine helmer was asked if he felt greater ownership over work he had directed rather than acted in.

Ayoade told Metro: "I think films are really the creation of the actors as much as a director.

"A director entertains delusions that they are the sole author of it, the life of the film is given to it by the actors, their creation and skill."

Asked if his move into directing meant that he would be acting less, he quipped: "As an act of mercy to the world, I think I may be on screens less."

Ayoade recently claimed that he shares the same influences as US director Wes Anderson.