Professional Autonomy Quotes

In the end, the actor's main power is the power to say, 'No.'

I have been in control of what I've been doing, of the career I've put together.

I do think, with people in comedy, you can have your time, as it were, and then you don't realise that it might have gone. I hope it hasn't for me. I think what I do is, I just... I just try to plough my own furrow, in a way.

Umm... I don't judge my relationship with Puff or Bad Boy according to other people or past artists. At the end of the day, you are in charge of your career, and you can't depend on no man to do anything for you. I've learned to judge relationships with a person on myself and that person, not what they have done with previous people.

I’m very blessed to be in a position where I can work on these issues full-time without having to go out and raise money.

I began to fear that Mos Def was being treated as a product, not a person, so I've been going by Yasiin since '99. At first it was just for friends and family, but now I'm declaring it openly.

Analysts can choose the problems that they want to study whereas the statesman’s problems are imposed on him.

I remember early in my career with Disney, which was a very strange time in the company - there were a couple of executives who were very supportive of me and kind of let me do my own thing.

I've finally reached a stage in my career where I can do what I want.

It's nice to be in a place where I can be a little more selective, and to be sought out for ideas that I have.

The journalist observes the laws of his country, but when the fulfillment of his professional duty is concerned he recognizes the jurisdiction of his colleagues only, and rejects any attempts of pressure and interference from the side of the government or whoever else.

At the age of 19, the day after I graduated high school, I moved to a place where it snowed, and I became a massage therapist. With this job, all I needed were my hands and my massage table by my side and I could go anywhere. For the first time in my life, I felt free, independent, and completely in control of my life.

Everybody's career has ups and downs. I like to take chances; I don't like to stand still. And I don't give a damn what the market is interested in; I want to try things.

I'm very lucky that I'm not a photographer for hire - people hire me for me. I go into every commercial work with an art focus, with that lens; every brand I've worked for just lets me do whatever I want to do. I have full creative freedom.

I've learned over the years that the best way to develop as an artist is to make things. So I tell young artists it's not enough to be an actor anymore, you have to be a filmmaker/writer/director. There's no excuse for waiting around for a job. You have to be active and make things.

I was just hoping to have the freedom to do my work.

You can't ring up another manager and say, 'Who do you think I should pick this week?' But you take the good and bad from people as you go along.

I have made decisions based from purely an actor's point of view.

I can't run my career based on someone else's ideology.

I definitely want to continue working in independent films - and big budget stuff as well - but there's a freedom you have when you're not getting paid. It's easier to say no and there's no pressure to please the powers that be. Also I don't have to hear 'flirt and smile more.'

As you get older and you progress in your career, you start to want to have more control over things and you have ideas.

My agent and I are very clear on what kind of roles I'm interested in, and I don't want to perpetuate any stereotypes.

If you join government, calmly make your contribution and move on. Don't go along to get along; do your best and when you have to - and you will - leave, and be something else.

I'd rather go back to waitressing than play a character that I hate.

After 50 years as a player and a coach, I will not become a functionary. That's not my world.