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Michael Shannon

Michael Shannon Quotes

Actor

Michael Shannon, born on August 7, 1974, is an American actor known for his exceptional performances in both film and theater. Renowned for his roles in independent films and major commercial blockbusters, Shannon has gained recognition for his versatility and ability to portray complex characters, particularly in psychological and antagonist roles. His acting career began in the 1990s, and he has since gained more attention for his leading roles in independent films.

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All People Ifs Acting Thinking Kind Real Play Want Feels Knows

Famous Michael Shannon Quotes

“Let's point out the elephant in the room: Actor bands are not notoriously successful enterprises. I can't think of any.”

Thinking I Can Actors Rooms Successful Band Enterprise Elephants Elephant In The Room

Author:Michael Shannon

“I'm just kind of odd. There are dark forces in the world, and if you pay attention to what's going on around you, you end up incorporating it into the storytelling. Maybe it's some aspect of myself that's coming through that people are seeing, that I am in fact a quiet psycho.”

People Ifs World Kind Ends Facts Force Dark Pay Attention Seeing Quiet Aspect Storytelling Pay Attention Odd Psycho Incorporating Dark Forces

Author:Michael Shannon

“One of the reasons I'm an actor is because I was no physical specimen as a child. I wasn't athletic and didn't have any prowess in that regard. Growing up in Kentucky, most little boys were trying to get into sports, and it was very competitive, so that was not to be. But I did want to do something.”

Want Trying Children Littles Reason Actors Sports Boys Growing Up Growing Regard Athletic Little Boys Kentucky Prowess

Author:Michael Shannon

“There's nothing routine about 'Boardwalk Empire.' It's like being in some secret society where they call you up and tell you where to go: 'Meet us at the corner of such and so.'”

Secret Corners Empires Routine Secret Society Boardwalks Boardwalk Empire

Author:Michael Shannon

“I like to play characters that get to do it all - to have a bit of comedy here and a bit of pathos here and a bit of suspense here, that's what's fun.”

Play Character Fun Bits Comedy Suspense Pathos

Author:Michael Shannon

“I don't pick my roles by genre; that's kind of silly.”

Kind Roles Picks Silly Genre

Author:Michael Shannon

“I get pretty attached to the majority of the characters I play. I can't help myself.”

I Can Play Character Helping Majority

Author:Michael Shannon

“I never went into acting to be able to scare everybody. If I'd wanted to frighten people, I could have joined the C.I.A.”

People Ifs Able Wanted Acting Scare

Author:Michael Shannon

“That's one of the great things about acting - you get to pretend you're somebody else, which is great if you get bored with yourself.”

Ifs Acting Great Things Bored

Author:Michael Shannon

“The stage is a routine. It keeps you grounded, like a metronome. I find that soothing.”

Stage Routine Grounded Soothing Metronomes

Author:Michael Shannon

“I started acting because I was miserable and crazy and wanted to be someone else, to run around and scream in front of people without getting in trouble.”

People Running Wanted Acting Trouble Crazy Fronts Miserable Scream

Author:Michael Shannon

“It's always very daunting to play someone who actually existed. You have to honor that, and be specific and accurate and try to make people believe that you're that guy, which is really hard.”

People Trying Believe Hard Play Guy Honor Accurate That Guy

Author:Michael Shannon

“My dad used to say, 'You have to become part of the machine to beat the machine,' and there's some validity in it. But honestly, even when I'm inside the machine, you still see me. I stick out a little bit.”

Littles Stills Used Bits Dad Little Bit Beats Machines Sticks My Dad Honestly Validity

Author:Michael Shannon

“There are certain ways of being that people don't find acceptable or very pleasant in regular life, but you go out on stage and do pretty much the same thing and they find it spellbinding.”

People Way Certain Stage Pleasant Acceptable

Author:Michael Shannon

“One of the great things about acting is you can do things that in real life would get you in trouble. I think that's something I figured out pretty early on.”

Thinking Real Can Do Acting Trouble Real Life Great Things

Author:Michael Shannon

“Well, I think anybody who's had a baby can tell you that once you have a baby, they kind of become the main focus. I don't think there's gonna be a lot of room for anything else.”

Thinking Wells Kind Rooms Focus Baby

Author:Michael Shannon

“If you give me enough time, enough leash, I can become pretty reasonable.”

Ifs Giving I Can Enough Give Me Reasonable Enough Time Leashes

Author:Michael Shannon

“When I'm working, I don't wake up and say, 'OK, time to go be intense.' I just look at whatever scenes we're working on that day and break them down - just real intense everyday work.”

Looks Real Break Scene Wake Up Everyday Intense

Author:Michael Shannon

“You got to know what's worth keeping and what's worth letting go.”

Knows Letting Go Meaningful

Author:Michael Shannon

About the Author

Born: August 7, 1974
Known for: Actor
Quotes: 69

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