“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 always get a headache the first time I watch a movie I'm in. Because you're staring at the screen so hard, your brain is doing all this work trying to put things in context of what the day-to-day experience of making it was. And the timeline that's in your head of when it was made, and on what day, how you felt. And then you're also trying to grasp what it's been edited into.” TryingFirstsMadeHardFeltBrainWatchesFirst TimeScreensStaringDay To DayHeadacheEditedTimelines Author:John C. Reilly
“I'm much more character based. I try to just be really committed to what I'm doing.” TryingCharacterCommitted Author:John C. Reilly
“I actually envy actors who have a persona: 'This is the way I am. This is the part I play.' And do it over and over and over. To me, that's a lot easier than trying to reinvent yourself every six months.” WayTryingPlayActorsMonthsEasierSixEnvySix MonthsPersonaReinventing Yourself 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 don't deliberately go into comedy or go into indies, but I do deliberately try to keep changing tact, because I think that is the key to longevity in a career.” ThinkingTryingCareersComedyKeysLongevityTact Author:John C. Reilly
“It's thought of as an eccentric thing for an actor to really try to maintain quality control through the whole career. Most people think, 'You just work. You just keep working.' And in some ways I wish I could be a guy who's just a workhorse.” PeopleThinkingWayTryingWholeGuyActorsWishQualityCareersEccentricQuality Control 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
“Hey, I'm just trying to become the Michael Caine/Gene Hackman of my generation.” TryingGenerationsHeyGenesMy Generation Author:John C. Reilly
“I try to take things that challenge me either physically or mentally, or I have to learn a new skill.” TryingChallengesSkillsTake MeNew Skills Author:John C. Reilly
“I view my strongest competition as myself. You're always trying to top yourself, rather than worrying about what other people are doing.” PeopleTryingViewsWorryCompetitionStrongestAlways Trying Author:John C. Reilly
“Being a father has fulfilled me in parts of my life that sustain me. It gives me a comfort and patience. All actors have this hole inside that they're trying to fill by performing. I'm anxious to keep creating, but I'm not so desperate any more because I have the love and support of my kids and wife.” GivingTryingKidsActorsFatherSupportWifeComfortCreatingGive MeHolesPerformingDesperateAnxiousFulfilledBeing A Father 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
“I've never been someone who's been given work because of the way I look or because I have some box office appeal. I get work because people know I'm swinging as hard as I can, trying to connect, giving it my level best. I have a face for radio, but here I am doing what I do.” PeopleKnowsWayGivingTryingLooksI CanHardFacesGivenLevelsOfficeRadioBoxesAppealsHere I AmBox Office Author:John C. Reilly
“The truth is that filmmaking is not really an actor's medium; it's really a director's medium, so all I can really control is the character that I'm playing. So I try to look for characters that are interesting and engaging and different than what I've done before and hopefully it becomes a good movie.” TryingLooksI CanDifferentDoneCharacterActorsInterestingTruth IsDirectorsMediumsHopefullyFilmmakingEngagingGood Movie Author:John C. Reilly
