Woody Allen: I’m not that great

The 75-year-old director began moviemaking in the 60s, and is considered one of the world’s most talented directors, having picked up an array of award nominations and wins throughout his career.

Woody doesn’t believe he will ever be considered as a master of cinema though, in the way that iconic directors such as the late Federico Fellini is, which upsets him.

“It does bother me. I mean, I would rather be able to get into bed at night and think, ‘If I die now I’ve achieved greatness,’ or young kids can see my movie in a festival alongside Fellini’s and Kurosawa’s and Bergman’s,” Woody told Total Film. “But I don’t feel that way. I have come to terms with the fact that this is never going to happen and I’ve had more than enough bats to try it.”

Woody is pleased he’s always been fiercely independent, and is proud to have worked on all the different elements of his various movies on his own. This does mean he can’t blame what he perceives to be his lack of “greatness” on anyone else though.

“I’ve only myself to blame because from day one I’ve had complete control of all my pictures. No one’s ever told me what to do, who to cast. No one reads my scripts. Nothing. And so I have no excuses,” he added.