Quotes by Actress | Beyond Motive 188/233

top of page

Quotes by Actress

"Actors cannot choose the manner in which they are born. Consequently, it is the one gesture in their lives completely devoid of self-consciousness."

"Actors cannot choose the manner in which they are born. Consequently, it is the one gesture in their lives completely devoid of self-consciousness."

Helen Hayes, American Actress

Actor, Actors, Self

31

"A relationship is lovely if you're happy, comfortable in it and you really like the person. I can think of nothing better. But there's nothing worse than having a relationship in which you feel no interest."

"A relationship is lovely if you're happy, comfortable in it and you really like the person. I can think of nothing better. But there's nothing worse than having a relationship in which you feel no interest."

Susannah York, British Actress

Interest, Nothing

31

"Obviously we're a consumer nation and you have the power to influence these big corporations who are running the world right now through what you chose to, or not to, purchase."

"Obviously we're a consumer nation and you have the power to influence these big corporations who are running the world right now through what you chose to, or not to, purchase."

Daryl Hannah, American Actress

Power, Corporations, Influence, Nation

31

"In the initial season of a show, you're figuring out your character and their life and their background and you're putting together all the chapters of the book."

"In the initial season of a show, you're figuring out your character and their life and their background and you're putting together all the chapters of the book."

Sophia Bush, American Actress

Life, Character

31

"I think the most liberating thing I did early on was to free myself from any concern with my looks as they pertained to my work."

"I think the most liberating thing I did early on was to free myself from any concern with my looks as they pertained to my work."

Meryl Streep, American Actress

31

"Fashion is in my blood. Growing up, I was always clacking around the house in my mother's shoes."

"Fashion is in my blood. Growing up, I was always clacking around the house in my mother's shoes."

Sophia Bush, American Actress

Mother, Blood, Fashion, Growing up

31

"Dreams are like paper, they tear so easily."

"Dreams are like paper, they tear so easily."

Gilda Radner, American Actress

31

"I think it's because it was an emotional story, and emotions come through much stronger in black and white. Colour is distracting in a way, it pleases the eye but it doesn't necessarily reach the heart."

"I think it's because it was an emotional story, and emotions come through much stronger in black and white. Colour is distracting in a way, it pleases the eye but it doesn't necessarily reach the heart."

Kim Hunter, American Actress

Heart, Emotions, Eye

31

"People are still asking me if I knew Star Wars was going to be that big of a hit. Yes, we all knew. The only one who didn't know was George."

"People are still asking me if I knew Star Wars was going to be that big of a hit. Yes, we all knew. The only one who didn't know was George."

Carrie Fisher, American Actress

31

"Now I say I'm a diarist with an explanation I'll get back to you on. Someday I may try and write in memoir form."

"Now I say I'm a diarist with an explanation I'll get back to you on. Someday I may try and write in memoir form."

Carrie Fisher, American Actress

31

"My mom used to say that Greek Easter was later because then you get stuff cheaper."

"My mom used to say that Greek Easter was later because then you get stuff cheaper."

Amy Sedaris, American Actress

31

"Oh, God, I would love to go and do a play someplace."

"Oh, God, I would love to go and do a play someplace."

Erika Slezak, American Actress

Love, God, Play

31

"It was so satisfying for me - a great reward, just to see it done well. And it was beautifully directed by my daughter Susan Riskin. Imagine, a play about my mother directed by my daughter?!"

"It was so satisfying for me - a great reward, just to see it done well. And it was beautifully directed by my daughter Susan Riskin. Imagine, a play about my mother directed by my daughter?!"

Fay Wray, American Actress

Mother, Daughter, Play, Reward

31

"I love meeting new people; I think everyone has a story to tell. We should all listen sometimes."

"I love meeting new people; I think everyone has a story to tell. We should all listen sometimes."

Kim Smith, American Actress

Love, People, Meeting

31

"If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things of nature have a message that you understand, rejoice, for your soul is alive."

"If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things of nature have a message that you understand, rejoice, for your soul is alive."

Eleonora Duse, Italian Actress

Nature, Power, Soul, Joy

31

"I'm not sure I want all my neuroses cleared up."

"I'm not sure I want all my neuroses cleared up."

Patty Duke, American Actress

31

"In Hollywood there are a lot of very insecure men running the business."

"In Hollywood there are a lot of very insecure men running the business."

Rosanna Arquette, American Actress

Business, Men, Hollywood, Running

31

"I went to these mixers, you know, where you're supposed to meet people. And sure enough, some guy asked me for my phone number. but at the end of the evening he gave it back."

"I went to these mixers, you know, where you're supposed to meet people. And sure enough, some guy asked me for my phone number. but at the end of the evening he gave it back."

Marcia Wallace, American Actress

People, End, Evening

31

"But there is something seductive and the character, Alfie is so charming, and does make you think like you are the most important thing in the world but he's not that nice, is he."

"But there is something seductive and the character, Alfie is so charming, and does make you think like you are the most important thing in the world but he's not that nice, is he."

Sienna Miller, American Actress

Character, World

31

"My very first audition was on the lot of Paramount, and I was put on tape and it was very nerve-racking. I think it was about 15 pages."

"My very first audition was on the lot of Paramount, and I was put on tape and it was very nerve-racking. I think it was about 15 pages."

Hailee Steinfeld, American Actress

31

"I'm not into older guys. To tell you the truth, Richard Gere is not the sexiest man alive, in my book."

"I'm not into older guys. To tell you the truth, Richard Gere is not the sexiest man alive, in my book."

Winona Ryder, American Actress

31

"If I eat clean, I look 10 years younger."

"If I eat clean, I look 10 years younger."

Mariska Hargitay, American Actress

31

"I'm a practicing Christian - and I'm going to keep practicing till I get it right - but I don't feel everyone has to practice the same religion that I do. You have a right to worship who you choose and how you choose to."

"I'm a practicing Christian - and I'm going to keep practicing till I get it right - but I don't feel everyone has to practice the same religion that I do. You have a right to worship who you choose and how you choose to."

Jane Elliot, American Actress

Religion, Christian, Practice, Right

31

"Good performance is about the capacity to focus and concentrate."

"Good performance is about the capacity to focus and concentrate."

Betty Buckley, American Actress

Performance, Focus

31

"I love the idea of a woman being able to discover the idea of power this way, on such a scale. And I don't know about that, what it means - well, I guess I'd better, or my part's in trouble."

"I love the idea of a woman being able to discover the idea of power this way, on such a scale. And I don't know about that, what it means - well, I guess I'd better, or my part's in trouble."

Mary McDonnell, American Actress

Love, Power, Idea, Being

31

"God, make me so uncomfortable that I will do the very thing I fear."

"God, make me so uncomfortable that I will do the very thing I fear."

Ruby Dee, American Actress

God, Fear, Will

31

"For me, getting comfortable with being famous was hard - that whole side of it, the loss of anonymity, the loss of privacy. Giving up that part of your life and not having control of it."

"For me, getting comfortable with being famous was hard - that whole side of it, the loss of anonymity, the loss of privacy. Giving up that part of your life and not having control of it."

Michelle Pfeiffer, American Actress

Life, Control, Being, Famous

31

"I've always tried to be conscious of how I represent women in my work. They don't have to be good or strong women, but they have to be complex."

"I've always tried to be conscious of how I represent women in my work. They don't have to be good or strong women, but they have to be complex."

Molly Parker, Canadian Actress

Woman, Women, Work

31

"It's not the most normal life in the world, but I screw up plenty of times to be a normal teenager."

"It's not the most normal life in the world, but I screw up plenty of times to be a normal teenager."

Mila Kunis, American Actress

31

"The results of this survey are shocking and should be a wake-up call to men and women that drinking and smoking too much not only gives you a bad headache in the morning but can affect your ability to start a family."

"The results of this survey are shocking and should be a wake-up call to men and women that drinking and smoking too much not only gives you a bad headache in the morning but can affect your ability to start a family."

Ann Robinson, American Actress

Family, Men, Women, Ability

31

"It's funny that all these goths paint their faces with such white make-up and that is the actual colour of my skin, I am that pale!"

"It's funny that all these goths paint their faces with such white make-up and that is the actual colour of my skin, I am that pale!"

Kelly Osbourne, English Actress

Funny, Faces, Goths, Skin

31

"My kitchen's pink, like skin-tone pink, and I lowered my spice rack so it's eye level - it's true! - and my phone, so I can reach it when I fall, it's right there."

"My kitchen's pink, like skin-tone pink, and I lowered my spice rack so it's eye level - it's true! - and my phone, so I can reach it when I fall, it's right there."

Amy Sedaris, American Actress

Eye, Kitchen, Right, Skin

31

"I think I'm dull. I would rather watch other people."

"I think I'm dull. I would rather watch other people."

Mia Kirshner, Canadian Actress

31

"I'm always the last person they go to with a sequel, because I'm the most skeptical. You know, I'm very proud of what we've done, and I don't want to screw up our series."

"I'm always the last person they go to with a sequel, because I'm the most skeptical. You know, I'm very proud of what we've done, and I don't want to screw up our series."

Sigourney Weaver, American Actress

31

"Out of all the actors I have worked with, I love working with Larry Hagman the most. We were very close and it was just a wonderful time."

"Out of all the actors I have worked with, I love working with Larry Hagman the most. We were very close and it was just a wonderful time."

Barbara Eden, American Actress

Love, Time, Actors

31

"I was raised in Boston by three older brothers and a very strong and empowering single mom."

"I was raised in Boston by three older brothers and a very strong and empowering single mom."

Eliza Dushku, American Actress

Mom, Boston, Brothers

31

"If I have to produce movies, direct movies, whatever to change the way Hollywood treats older women, I'll do it. If I have to bend the rules, I will. If I have to break them, I will."

"If I have to produce movies, direct movies, whatever to change the way Hollywood treats older women, I'll do it. If I have to bend the rules, I will. If I have to break them, I will."

Naomi Watts, English Actress

Change, Movies, Women, Hollywood

31

"That disturbs people when they know they didn't have the guts or integrity to stick to their dreams."

"That disturbs people when they know they didn't have the guts or integrity to stick to their dreams."

Sandra Bernhard, American Actress

Dream, Dreams, People, Integrity

31

"I'm not that fashion-conscious. A lot of times, when women are appearing to be so perfect, it's because they're a mess underneath."

"I'm not that fashion-conscious. A lot of times, when women are appearing to be so perfect, it's because they're a mess underneath."

Meg Tilly, American Actress

Woman, Women, Fashion

31

"They have - they do still hit me occasionally, and it's an overwhelming grief for what - even though my life is so good now, even including going through treatment for cancer, my life is incredible."

"They have - they do still hit me occasionally, and it's an overwhelming grief for what - even though my life is so good now, even including going through treatment for cancer, my life is incredible."

Lynn Redgrave, British Actress

Life, Cancer, Grief, Now

31

"And now, I still really don't care that much but now I have music playing all the time at home, which is a first for me. Whatever. Everything from Ani DiFranco to Dave Matthews to Jack Johnson and Norah Jones."

"And now, I still really don't care that much but now I have music playing all the time at home, which is a first for me. Whatever. Everything from Ani DiFranco to Dave Matthews to Jack Johnson and Norah Jones."

Jennifer Garner, American Actress

Music, Time, Home, Care

31

"I used to smoke two packs a day and I just hate being a nonsmoker... but I will never consider myself a nonsmoker because I always find smokers the most interesting people at the table."

"I used to smoke two packs a day and I just hate being a nonsmoker... but I will never consider myself a nonsmoker because I always find smokers the most interesting people at the table."

Michelle Pfeiffer, American Actress

People, Being, Day, Hate

31

"My face is my career."

"My face is my career."

Carol Kane, American Actress

31

"Making people laugh is magic. I feel like if you have humility, then you can do anything in comedy."

"Making people laugh is magic. I feel like if you have humility, then you can do anything in comedy."

Amanda Seyfried, American Actress

People, Comedy, Humility, Magic

31

"An actress, around 40, on television, that's where you get the most torture, I think."

"An actress, around 40, on television, that's where you get the most torture, I think."

Lisa Kudrow, American Actress

31

"But in this case, he had my cell phone and my phone was ringing and I had just come back from Australia on the plane and I thought it was my mum and it was Woody Allen just checking to see if I wanted to be in his movie."

"But in this case, he had my cell phone and my phone was ringing and I had just come back from Australia on the plane and I thought it was my mum and it was Woody Allen just checking to see if I wanted to be in his movie."

Radha Mitchell, Australian Actress

31

"That's what I like about film-it can be bizarre, classic, normal, romantic. Cinema is to me the most versatile thing."

"That's what I like about film-it can be bizarre, classic, normal, romantic. Cinema is to me the most versatile thing."

Catherine Deneuve, French Actress

Bizarre, Cinema, Film, Romantic

31

"I seemed to belong to three countries: I had an apartment in Paris, a house in Hollywood, and when I married British theater director Peter Hall, I moved to London."

"I seemed to belong to three countries: I had an apartment in Paris, a house in Hollywood, and when I married British theater director Peter Hall, I moved to London."

Leslie Caron, French Actress

Hollywood, London, Paris, Theater

31

"Do not know yourself. I want to continue to surprise me."

"Do not know yourself. I want to continue to surprise me."

Arielle Dombasle, French Actress

31

"I don't think you can ever completely transform yourself on film, but if you do your job well, you can make people believe that you're the character you're trying to be."

"I don't think you can ever completely transform yourself on film, but if you do your job well, you can make people believe that you're the character you're trying to be."

Frances McDormand, American Actress

People, Character, Film, Job

31

bottom of page