Willem Dafoe Quotes

I think all the roles were something that sort of hit me, and I guess I was very lucky to get those roles.

I like movies because I've been getting leads, and TV is more about ensemble casts.

I've played all kinds of TV roles, from cowboys to fathers of teenagers. It's helped me a lot. Of course, I was very lucky to have had good directors.

Fortunately, the films I do not require too much of glamour. Those are the kinds of roles I'm looking for.

It is always good to be cast in films with good stories and content, made by such amazing banners and directors. For an actor it's a task to work in films like these.

I don't think you can discriminate against budgets, you know? I'm an actor, I guess, so I'm just trying to play as many characters as I can. If there's a character I think I can play, and they're going to let me do it, I'll do it whether it's $10 or $1 million or more.

I've thought about doing other dramatic roles besides westerns, but I grew up in the West and I know the West.

Everybody reads for me. I was never weird about that. I never minded coming in and reading. They should know if I'm the right person, and I should know if I want to do a movie.

Movies are full of leading men, most of whom aren't working. It's much harder to find a good villain.

I want to take roles that challenge me and I want to like the script and obviously feel connected with the director because the director to me is so important.

Some directors cast you because they trust you to do the performance - but then they forget to direct you.

It's my job in Hollywood to find roles where I get to be a character not a bathing suit.

I've certainly worked with really great directors who haven't acted.

If the story's interesting and it's a compelling script, I'd be thrilled to be a part of it.

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

Since I was 12 or 13, I have been taking movie meetings finding a project right for me because I wanted to try it. Craig gave us the script - it was set in Wales, it is really British humour. I just loved it.

I'm a student. I want to do better, and I want directors who can find the actress in me and be my teachers. I'm interested in the whole process of editing, post-production and direction.

The reason I am unemployed for six months out of every year is because I have to turn down most of the films I'm offered. If I didn't, I'd only ever play a dark, satanic count on a horse.

Being an actor, we're so dependent on the writers.

A lot of the films now are more focused on the visuals than on the actors. I think all directors should go to drama school.

I think the toughest thing about being an actor in a film is to be with a director who doesn't know what they want. And that can be really, really frustrating.

If you think you don't want to play another psychopath, but the script is amazing, and the director is fantastic, and the story is incredible, then you may end up playing your third psychopath in a row.

I'm always looking for a low-budget script with an interesting character to play.

I've always admired Cate Blanchett and the roles she chooses. I think she's got an incredible discipline in a way, with choosing roles that are going to help her grow and bring something interesting to the world.

I don't make decisions just on the character I'm supposed to play. Sometimes it's based on the director, sometimes it's based on the story, sometimes I need money, or sometimes I'm just starved to work.