Harvey Keitel Quotes

When I do film, I really take on roles and I take on characters.

An actor will use every piece of information at their disposal, or a good actor will.

I'm the sort of actor who likes to talk about what we're going to do.

What I love to do requires portraying different characters, and you have to separate your life from the role.

As an actor, I love working with directors. As much as I love working with other actors.

Acting is about acting, not about being a movie star.

There's no one more willing to do something than an actor when it comes to perfecting a scene.

I'm foremost an actor. I feel embarrassed being compared to the guys who really work at it. I fake it, I make believe I know all about it, which is what you're supposed to do as an actor.

I think when you take away all, like, the premieres and press stuff and all the special effects, then you just come down to the fact that it's all about acting, and I think that has been the best bit for me.

When you get to set, you don't try to play the plot; you just play the character.

For any role, I pretty much always go to the script, first and foremost.

I think that different actors go about their preparation differently, but when it comes to acting, I use my imagination.

For the actors, the talent is to serve the demands that I ask of them, to do it with naturality and truth, and to be honest when we were terrified.

The thing about being an actor is that you're acting. It's not that big of a deal of to play someone different from yourself.

Some actors get by with behaving, not acting. You've got to sell the effect. I act more in the 'Nightmare' movies because it's not like me. I'm acting, not reacting.

There are two main jobs in acting - the first one is to be a good actor, and the second one is to convince everyone that you're a good actor.

Sometimes I think of movie acting as advanced pretend.

As an actor, one's role is very much to respond and react to the situation within the context of the character and his world.

I think all great actors - and I don't classify myself as one of them, incidentally - but I think all great actors listen well and I've learned that from a lot of the very good actors with whom I've worked - to really listen to what people say.

It's not good just to have life experience of film-making and that's all. It's hard to play a real person when you've been in jets and town cars for three years.

Working with actors is something I've never done before. I find it tremendous. It's hard work.

The actors I admire are character actors.

When you drop your guard in films, the acting process compensates. You get lazy and you start acting.

Really I just want to get on with my job, which is to pretend to be lots of different people. Simple as that.

Basically, the actor's job is to pay attention to the script.