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Tom Courtenay Biography

Actor

Tom Courtenay is a renowned British actor, born on February 25, 1937. He is celebrated for his exceptional performances in theater, film, and television, particularly for his work in 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?' and 'Annie Hall'.

Men Years Firsts I Can Age Gone Youth Emotional Drama Scene Logic Investment Notion Timing Connecting Emotional Investment

Author:Tom Courtenay

“I keep saying that backwards is all you can see. You can't see front. My wife says, "Stop, you're always in the past." She sees me sort of daydreaming.”

Past Wife Fronts My Wife Backwards Daydreaming

Author:Tom Courtenay

“It was still quite late when I got married, 30s, I don't know.”

Knows Stills Late Married

Author:Tom Courtenay

“My now-wife - we got together in '81, we married a few years after - she's been very good in the past about going in the theater with me to see actresses I had known. But then, she's not an actress.”

Years Together Past Known Wife Married Theater Very Good Actresses

Author:Tom Courtenay

“This is something particular to actors, especially in plays, and in films, too - but in plays, it's like, don't get involved with anyone in the play.”

Play Film Actors Particular Involved Get Involved

Author:Tom Courtenay

“The old actors in the old days, they used to go on tour, to get the play ready for the West End, and to learn their lines. The old timers used to say, "Be very careful, dear boy, what you get in to during the first weeks of a long tour."”

Firsts Long Ends Play Used Actors Lines Boys Week Ready Goes On West Dear Careful Old Days Old Time Timer West End Old Timers

Author:Tom Courtenay

“I'm not religious. I love what Clive James said the other day. James is a brilliant writer, but he keeps on writing poems on stuff. And he said, "God doesn't have a leg to stand on."”

Writing Said Stuff Religious Legs Brilliant Writing Poems

Author:Tom Courtenay

“My occupation has been a great deal with David Foster Wallace, and he didn't manage it, and he was very much looking for something that isn't totally selfish, and finding meaning. It's a struggle.”

Has Beens Deals Struggle Findings Selfish Manage Occupation

Author:Tom Courtenay

“When you're in a two-shot together, you can't be the same as when you're both in singles. Try as you will, it cannot be the same as when you're in the shot together. It simply cannot be. It's physically impossible. You're behind the camera desperately wanting to help your colleague. When it's just you, on your own, it can be self-conscious in a way that you're not when we're just talking, you and I, and then all of a sudden it's me and then it's you. The two-shots were probably more natural.”

Way Trying Two Self Helping Together Natural Behinds Talking Impossible Conscious Shots Cameras Colleagues Self Conscious Singles

Author:Tom Courtenay

“I don't want to peak too early. The worry is that you never know until it's all over whether you peaked at all - and then you're finished and it's too late.”

Knows Want Worry Late Finished Too Late

Author:Tom Courtenay

“I never did anything about my stardom, it never meant anything to me.”

Stardom

Author:Tom Courtenay

“The film business is absurd. Stars don't last very long. It's much more interesting to be a proper actor.”

Long Lasts Film Actors Stars Interesting Absurd

Author:Tom Courtenay

“There just doesn't seem to be a market for something with aspiration anymore.”

Seems Aspiration

Author:Tom Courtenay

About the Author

Born: February 25, 1937
Known for: Actor
Quotes: 13

Books & Sources

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