“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
“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
“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
“A lot of people that make films say, 'We need this kind of character. Who's done it before? Get them to do it again.' That is exactly what actors are pushing against. It's kind of a cliche to talk about being stereotyped in that way, but it happens.” PeopleWayNeedsKindDoneCharacterHappensFilmActorsPushingCliche Author:John C. Reilly
“I always say it takes as much preparation and thought to do a small part as a leading part. In some ways, leads are easier because you have the luxury of time to discover the character.” WayCharacterEasierLuxuryPreparationSmall Parts Author:John C. Reilly
“I just like surprising people. I never want to get to a place where people see that I am in a movie and they go see the movie and they expect a certain performance one way or the other. That is just inherently boring to me.” PeopleWayWantCertainPerformancesBoringOne WaySurprising Author:John C. Reilly
“I'm not of the manor born; I've never felt entitled in that way. I just came to Hollywood to be an actor. All that lifestyle stuff is something to be managed.” WayActorsFeltStuffBornHollywoodLifestyleEntitled 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
“Movies are this thing that came into my life, and it still feels pretend in some way. I kind of do this thing, and I never really accepted this idea that I'm a film actor. That's what I do. I feel like I'm a theater actor that started doing films. Most people have never seen me in a play. They're fun, though.” PeopleWayFeelsKindStillsIdeasPlayFilmActorsFunTheaterAcceptedFilm Actors Author:John C. Reilly
“There are a lot of actors in the world, there's a small number that actually get to work as actors, and there is a tiny group of actors that are celebrated in the way that I have been. I feel incredibly lucky.” WorldWayFeelsHas BeensActorsNumbersGroupsLuckyTinySmall Numbers Author:John C. Reilly
“There is a level of fame that is really unmanageable. But most of the people who experience that level of fame are compensated in other ways. Private villas and chauffeured boats.” PeopleWayLevelsFameBoatVilla Author:John C. Reilly
“I find people attractive for more subtle reasons than just the way they look.” PeopleWayLooksReasonAttractiveSubtle Author:John C. Reilly
“The way you get through having a shitty job is to laugh a lot and goof around.” WayJobsLaughingGoofs Author:John C. Reilly
“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."” PeopleWayMindKindLaughingFiguresObjectivesMaking People Laugh Author:John C. Reilly
“Animation is a great way to work. No early morning call times, no make-up chair. In live action ,you're always fighting the clock; the sun is always going down too soon.” WayActionFightingMorningSunClockChairsAnimationEarly MorningAlways Fighting 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'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
“Just look around, in life, there's people who want to date people who look like themselves, and there are people who are just looking for a good fit. And a lot of times, a good fit is someone different than yourself. I'm not one to get too hung up on outside appearances. I find people attractive for more subtle reasons than just the way they look.” PeopleWayWantLooksDifferentReasonFitAppearanceAttractiveSubtleHung Author:John C. Reilly
