I had to choose between American and British actors, and it didn't take me more than a second to decide: Russians are Europeans and should be played by other Europeans.
-- Jean-Jacques Annaud
   
Jean-Jacques Annaud   Name:
Jean-Jacques Annaud
Type:
Director
Nationality:
French
Birth:
October 1, 1943
https://www.nutquote.com/quote/Jean-Jacques_Annaud