John Schlesinger Quotes

As an actress, I'm supposed to create something from head to toes, with clues, with lines, with shapes, and even with that power, I felt lost and not in control.

I find it hard to do small roles sometimes.

I think most actors are shy. I really do. The greatest actors can disappear. I had friends call me the Blend-In Man.

I'm sure acting is a deeply neurotic thing to do.

I think if actors don't think of themselves as funny in real life they think they can't do comedy.

I've never revised my opinion of myself as an actor. I've always thought I was as good as my material.

Whether that's an action film or a comedy or a drama or anything in between, I'm willing to prove that I can play with the big boys.

A lot of actors find it impossible not to ask for the audience's sympathy. They have a need to twinkle.

I don't get nervous when I'm directing a play. It's not like acting.

Because I trained in theater, I always leave a film shoot feeling like I haven't done anything, like I just sat in front of the camera and whispered, essentially.

It's true, most of my days are spent alone in a dark room! I don't really want anyone to see me trying and failing to nail the 40th take of a simple piano cue.

I'd always wanted to be an actress, and suddenly I knew that learning to control my facial muscles was one of the best assets I could have as a performer.

I remember rehearsing it, and it was the one that we were really excited about and thought would sound the best, and once it was down on tape, it was like, This doesn't actually sound that good.

I don't have a great instrument. I don't have the kind of ungodly control over my voice and body that great actors have. And I've worked with enough great actors to know that I'm not one.

Once the film is done, then I like to watch myself. I know some actors say that they get very self-conscious watching themselves on screen especially if they have to cry in the scenes, they don't like the way their face contorts, but I have no such issues.

Let's face it: I was never a very good actress.

My parents were complicated people. They had a complicated relationship. My home was very, very complicated.

Stevie Van Zandt could not walk on to a set and act. I don't know how actors do that! It's the scariest thing in the world.

Now that I'm acting, I've realized that I don't have a lot of barriers. Certain actors have a hard time with anger or with joy or with whatever, and, I don't know, I don't seem to have those barriers.

Yes, 'Aagadu' was a failure. I was dejected for a couple of months, since there was a lot at stake.

I don't know if anyone knows if they're ever any good, but I went to drama school in Scotland, in a classical acting course, and my first year, I remember one of my tutors telling me that I couldn't act, and I should give up and all this sort of thing, and then, they cast me as Romeo in 'Romeo and Juliet.'

I've spent a lot of time playing roles that didn't really challenge me. I suppose every actor feels that way.

I think I'm not a natural performer; I think I'm an actor.

I've always been kind of a - you know, I have my moments, where I can be Tommy, and then I flip a switch; when you're on stage, you turn into this other personality.

Learning method acting might mess me up.