Mary McDonnell Quotes

I believe in giving actors the freedom to express themselves, and adding more to whatever is written.

I don't want to be famous as a movie star and have the whole world love me, I want to be a creative actress.

The characters I've played as an actress have been really challenging and emotionally rewarding, but there was just something missing. I was finding over and over again that directors were looking to me to help with troubles on set as far as characters' relationships, special effects and story points were concerned.

I think as a filmmaker and as a director, you shortchange yourself if you inhibit the ability of your actor to bring their own personal experiences to the characters.

As an actor, our very palette is one of imagination. So it is a walk onto an empty space and then imagine the world beyond it is what we do.

So I don't think of myself as just a musician at all, I think of myself as an artist.

When I was a teenager, I wanted to be a rock star, not an actor. It means I can do what I want on my own terms.

That's what I love about acting, is playing different roles. I want to work for the character, and not make it work for me.

See, that's the thing: I'm not one of those actors who thinks, 'God, I've got to improvise and make it my own.' No, my first job as an actor is to take what's written and make it work. And then, if they want me to improvise, I'll do that.

I want to prove a point. That point is, actors are artists, not narcissists necessarily.

There are some times when I think acting can be a noble profession. And when those rare roles come along, like 'Down to the Bone,' you have the opportunity to be of service.

I feel like when I'm on stage, when I'm writing songs, singing songs, I'm in the studio, I'm shooting videos, I kind of get to become this character, and I can make that whatever I want to make that.

I love the process of acting, and to turn your passion into a career is the biggest gift.

Every artist says that he/she wants to do something challenging, and I'm not any different. If someone approaches me with a serious role, I'll be more than happy.

The only people who have doubts about the sincerity of my music are people who come to it relatively late, off the back of having seen me in a film. Acting is about being other people, and music is about being myself.

As an actor, you express certain things because they need to be expressed, and then you don't really feel a need to do it again. I want to feel something else, you know?

With independent film, as an actor, you have more involvement - it's very much more connected. It's not just like I'm showing up and there's another actor on the call sheet; you're very attached to it.

I love acting it's apart of me and I try to put a little bit of myself in each of my roles.

Acting is my first love. There are still so many characters inside of me that are waiting to come out.

I want to be an artist, an actress with integrity, and that includes all kinds of parts.

Any good production team is going to allow an actor to breathe life into the characters - that's why they hired that woman, that man, whatever the case.

People say: 'Oh, it's only acting,' but it's not ever just acting. At least not with me.

Whenever you're in any acting role you are mortgaging your own character.

It is my greatest joy to live a really good part, even though it imposes great strain. An artist is tired but proud when he has created a great work of art. So it is with the actor who really lives a great role and is proud of the part he played.

Many plays - certainly mine - are like blank checks. The actors and directors put their own signatures on them.