On how America should accept him:

"Will power. There’s a messianic cult leader called Rael who believes the extraterrestrials will return to Earth to take over soon, and they’re communicating with us through our hair. He also believes the Bible is a depiction of ancient cultures trying to understand a technologically advanced species of aliens flying through the skies in space ships."

How much of his persona is himself and how much is an act:

"I think all of us are quite multifaceted. If suddenly you were to tell me of a bereavement, I wouldn’t go, ‘Ooh, how awful.’ I have a way of socializing that is genuine and is coming from within me, but if I’m with my mum I’m different If I’m with people I grew up with I’m different, or if I’m alone with my cat I’m different, but there is no hint of disingenuity in what I’m doing. This is sort of how I am."

On what the inscriptions on his rings say:

"This says [points] ‘sex and drugs and rock ‘n’ roll’. Although, of course, I will not take drugs because they’re harmful. And this one says ‘rock star’. I once saw Ozzy Osbourne and he said [imitates Ozzy] "Look Sharon! My God. He’s got the same ring as me!’ And I said, "Ozzy, I believe they’re made in a factory. You do understand the idea of consumerism?" Ozzy was fascinated by the idea of replication even though he has procreated himself and has two wonderful children."

Brand on whether he's a wannabe rock star at heart:

"I do not want to be a rock star because I think to be a rock star you have to take yourself very seriously. As a rock star you stand on stage and say, 'Woo, look at me! Aren’t I sexy?' As a comedian, you sort of say, 'Well, I do apologize for all of this.' And the latter is a paradigm to which I am much more suited."

On the best way to get over being dumped:

"I think it’s just to try to be loving in those situations. It’s very difficult, isn’t it? But if everything you do is underscored by love, then you can’t do anything bad can you? It’s like a relationship inevitably won’t work because at some point everything is terminal. At some point everything must end. I think the reason it’s sad to say goodbye to someone at an airport is because it’s a rehearsal for death. Everything is finite, everything will end with death, if not before. So I think the constant acknowledgment of that fact, by living in the moment and being beautiful, is the solution to all problems whether a trivial domestic breakup or the sort of loss of self through love. So I just think go within yourself and find spiritual unity is probably the answer to any question you have, although I don’t wish to truncate the interview."

On why it took him so long to take the world by storm:

"Because I was a heroin addict. If you’re addicted to heroin it takes up an awful lot of your time. You have to get the heroin, take the heroin, fall asleep because of the heroin, then more heroin and so I think I was unable to because I was involved in a lot of other time consuming things. I think that’s the simple answer. I was a petty criminal and drug addict for a long while, and if you’re a drug addict it’s very difficult to succeed in anything."

Brand on his wake up call:

"I met a man called John Knoll who looks after me, who forced me to go into a rehabilitation centre for three months, and I’ve not taken drugs since then. That was five years ago, December 13th, 2002."

Brand and his thoughts on Judd Apatow:

"I like him. He’s friendly and quite fun. He’s a laugh. I think he’s ever so nice."

On whether it's true that he'll be the star of a future Judd Apatow film:

"Yes, I hope so, because otherwise I’ll feel I’ve been lied to."

Russell Brand on the type of women he likes:

"I like women. I think you can find beauty in everybody. Generally flesh. Someone might have an unusual eyebrow or an incredible ankle and I’ll fixate on that. And consistent with what I’ve been saying, if you have a moment with someone, in that moment you can fall hopelessly in love, and it’s only the longevity I struggle with. But if you can fall in love with somebody for five seconds, maybe that’s as valuable as 10 years? If the universe is infinite and time eternal, what’s the difference between 10 seconds and 20 years? It’s only this context that makes long-term commitment valuable. There are no specific things. I just fall in love with women generally. Men’s genitals, I don’t like, or I’d include them."