“I get the greatest joy from just doing anything, being an actor. Doing music, and doing what I love to do. I don't make a huge distinction between comedy and drama. I think the whole point is just trying to be as honest, from moment to moment, as you can be. If you're honest about the material, and the material is ridiculous, then you're in a comedy.” IfsThinkingTryingWholeMomentsJoyActorsComedyHonestMaterialsHugeDramaRidiculousDistinction Author:John C. Reilly
“I like working with people I know. It saves a lot of awkward conversations and getting-to-know-you kinda moments. You trust the people if you know them.” PeopleIfsKnowsMomentsConversationAwkward Author:John C. Reilly
“If you get made fun for the way you look, then maybe wearing the same thing every day is the best way to protect yourself.” IfsWayLooksMadeFunProtectBest WayProtect Yourself Author:John C. Reilly
“If I'm committed to something really stupid, then I'm in a comedy.” IfsComedyStupidCommittedReally Stupid Author:John C. Reilly
“Here's the thing, with comedy - and I learned this from Will Ferrell - you can't be ashamed. If you're doing comedy, you have to fully commit to the joke. Shame is not part of it. If you act shy or uncomfortable about your body, that makes the audience shy and uncomfortable. And in a comedy you just want them to loosen up and laugh.” IfsWantBodyAudienceLaughingComedyJokesShameYour BodyCommitUncomfortableAshamedShy Author:John C. Reilly
“Kind of the exhausting thing about doing pure comedy, or something that's broader, is you're kind of a slave to the laugh. If it's not funny, then there's not much point in doing it. The kind of über-objective is to make people laugh. You always have to have that in the back of your mind, "Eh, I've got to figure out a way to make this funny."” PeopleIfsWayMindKindLaughingComedyFiguresPureSlaveObjectivesMaking People LaughExhausting Author:John C. Reilly
“Whenever I work on something, I try and throw everything I have at it. Then if the director finds it useful they use it, and if not, they ignore it!” IfsTryingUseDirectors Author:John C. Reilly
“I hear actors complain about being stereotyped, and a lot of the time, you have yourself to blame. Just don't take the part if you feel like it's a stereotypical part for you. You have control over your life. We don't have the old studio system, where you have to do what they tell you.” IfsFeelsActorsBlameStudiosComplainingOver You Author:John C. Reilly
“This whole celebrity racket, it's not really my bag. I don't really do that stuff, and I am not looking to get famous myself. I would love it if my characters get famous, my work was well known and appreciated. But I'm an actor, not a spokes model or a celebrity or whatever that is. I don't know how to be that.” IfsKnowsWellsWholeCharacterActorsStuffKnownKnow HowModelsBagsSpokesWell KnownAppreciatedRacket Author:John C. Reilly
“I don't think I could ever stop doing serious movies and just do comedies, or vice versa, but there is something cool about going to work everyday and you're just trying to make your friends laugh. That's nice work if you can get it, you know what I mean? It's different than going to work and knowing that I've gotta slap someone in the face today, and then I've gotta cry, and someone's gonna die, I've gotta get myself to that place.” IfsThinkingKnowsTryingMeanDifferentTodayFacesDiesLaughingKnowingComedyNiceCrySeriousEverydayVicesGoing To WorkVice VersaSlapNice Work Author:John C. Reilly
“I was thinking maybe about being a lawyer. I realized I was interested in becoming a priest at one point. I was just interested in stuff where I could do something I really believed in. And then, I realized if I become an actor, I don't have to choose. I get to do everything. It's worked out so far. But what I really want to do is direct.” IfsThinkingWantActorsStuffBecomingDirectLawyerI RealizedPriests Author:John C. Reilly
“I really enjoy my time off. If I'm going to go to work, it has to be something I really believe in, or else it's totally tedious.” IfsBelieveEnjoyMy TimeWorking ItTediousTime Off Author:John C. Reilly
“If people want to see me in comedies, that's fine with me.” PeopleIfsWantComedyFine Author:John C. Reilly
“I always felt really guilty if I spent too much time playing video games. It's a colossal waste of time. And I can't say it's a very satisfying feeling at the end of the day, if you've spent eight hours playing a video game; you just end up feeling kind of spent, and used.” IfsKindI CanEndsFeelingsUsedGamesFeltHoursToo MuchWasteEightVideoGuiltyThe End Of The DaySatisfyingWasting TimeColossalPlaying Video Games Author:John C. Reilly
“I considered a lot of different jobs as a kid. I thought about becoming a priest or a lawyer. My father had a big linen-supply business and I considered working for him. What dawned on me was: 'If I'm an actor, I get to do the fun parts of every job!' Without having to go to four years of law school.” IfsYearsDifferentBigsKidsSchoolJobsLawActorsFatherFunFourBecomingLawyerPriestsFour YearsLaw SchoolDifferent JobsLinen Author:John C. Reilly
“I like working. I wish I could say I made a deliberate choice to comedy, but it's just what came my way. It's what the studios wanted to make. Some of my friends were doing it, like Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, and they offered me 'Talladega Nights.' It's just nice work if you can get it. It's a joyful day at work, making your friends laugh.” IfsWayMadeWantedNightChoicesWishLaughingComedyNiceMy FriendsStudiosMy WayAdamJoyfulDeliberateNice Work Author:John C. Reilly
“I swear and it comes off a little angry, no matter how funny I'm trying to do it. If I use certain words with a certain intensity, it's like 'Whoa whoa whoa, buddy buddy!'” IfsTryingLittlesMatterUseCertainAngryIntensitySwearBuddy Author:John C. Reilly
“If you're really being honest with yourself when you're acting, part of it is touching the real you. You can only separate yourself so much from the character. Those vulnerable moments do touch me.” IfsRealMomentsCharacterActingHonestVulnerableBeing HonestTouchingTouch MeReal YouHonest With YourselfBe Honest With Yourself Author:John C. Reilly
“The thing I tried to remember when I was younger was 'Do something that's at least as good, if not better, than the last thing you did.' So I started with Brian De Palma and Sean Penn. I had a pretty high bar to start with.” IfsLastsRememberBarsRemember WhenBrianSean Author:John C. Reilly
“Really if you look at my filmography, there's something for everyone!” IfsLooks Author:John C. Reilly
