“I think I'm drawn to more villain-type characters, because it's so cool to get to say all the things you want to say. In Hollywood, you get to this position where you have to bite your tongue so much. You take all your experiences of not being able to say what you really want to say, and channel that through your character.” ThinkingWantCharacterAblePositionTypeHollywoodTongueBitesVillain Author:Gabrielle Union
“I come from the theater, and I've done a lot of character work in the theater, but Hollywood stuff in film and TV, they've been more leading lady/ingenue type roles.” DoneCharacterFilmStuffRolesTvsTypeHollywoodTheaterLeading Ladies Author:Sanaa Lathan
“I always think it's really hard if you are Asian or Chinese to be really in Hollywood. There are not so many really great characters for you.” IfsThinkingHardCharacterHollywoodChineseReally GreatAsianGreat Character Author:Zhang Ziyi
“I don't think a lot of people really understand the commitment it takes to being a character that an actor in Hollywood would take to approaching a role that they're doing.” PeopleThinkingCharacterActorsRolesCommitmentHollywood Author:Misty Copeland
“When I was a Hollywood press agent, I learned how the Hollywood casting system worked. There was a roster of actors who were always perfect as doctors or lawyers or laborers, and the directors just picked the types they needed and stuffed them into film after film. I do the same [with my characters], book after book.” BookCharacterFilmActorsPerfectTypeNeededDirectorsDoctorsHollywoodPressesLawyerAgentsCastingLaborersRosters Author:Richard Condon
“To me the industry has always said that the lovers and haters and principal characters will always be white in Hollywood, and black people will always be appendages of those kinds of dramas, or they will be comedic outlets. It will never change.” PeopleKindSaidCharacterBlackWhiteIndustryLoversDramaHollywoodBlack PeoplePrincipalOutletsNever ChangeComedic Author:Haile Gerima
“The problem that we have is the President himself- a President who prides himself on his own weakness and incompetence and whose love of false prophets and strange women knows no bounds and has no end. A President who is as confused and as clueless as the comic character called Chancey Gardner in the celebrated 1970's Peter Seller's Hollywood blockbuster titled ”Being There” KnowsEndsCharacterProblemPresidentStrangePrideWeaknessHollywoodBoundsComicConfusedProphetPeterBeing ThereIncompetenceSellersCluelessBlockbusterFalse Prophets Author:Femi Fani-Kayode
“I see characters lying all the time in a lot of Hollywood movies. They can't do this because it would affect the movie this way or that or this demographic might not like it. To me a character can't do anything good or bad, they can only do something that's true or not.” WayCharacterMightLyingHollywoodDemographicsHollywood Movies Author:Quentin Tarantino
“I try to always step up to the plate, be professional, be good at what I'm doing and deliver on the character. In Hollywood, what more can you ask for. You want a consummate professional.” WantTryingCharacterAsksStepsHollywoodBe GoodPlatesStep Up Author:Martin Lawrence
“My basic mistake in 'The World's Greatest Lover' was that I made the leading character a neurotic kook and sent him to Hollywood. I should have made him a perfectly normal, sane, ordinary person, and sent him to Hollywood. The audience identifies with the lead character.” WorldShouldPersonsMadeCharacterMistakeAudienceLoversNormalOrdinaryShould HaveHollywoodSaneNeuroticOrdinary PersonPerfectly NormalLead Characters Author:Gene Wilder
“I'm not sure that it's easy to find very interesting female characters in Hollywood movies.” CharacterEasyInterestingFemaleHollywoodNot SureVery InterestingFemale CharactersHollywood Movies Author:Audrey Tautou
“There were many generations of Latino people coming to this country, coming from difficult political or social situations in their own countries, and they worked very hard to have their kids go to universities. Well, those kids came out and they are now doctors and architects, or they are on the Supreme Court. That has a reflection in Hollywood. So, we are actually very proud that our characters are Latinos, and I think it's good for diversity and cultural interaction.” PeopleThinkingWellsCountryHardCharacterKidsPoliticalSocialDifficultSituationGenerationsProudDiversityReflectionDoctorsHollywoodCourtUniversitySupremeArchitectInteractionSupreme CourtLatino Author:Antonio Banderas
“It's my job in Hollywood to find roles where I get to be a character not a bathing suit.” CharacterJobsRolesHeardHollywoodSuitsAmberBathingBathing Suits Author:Amber Heard
“The great exception to that, of course, is Johnny Depp, who is absolutely the ultimate character actor. Johnny Depp is the future of the character actor and thanks to his success maybe we will see the return of an era when my sort of actor is back in vogue. It's not in vogue for me to be in Hollywood movies as lots of different people.” PeopleDifferentCharacterCoursesActorsReturnHollywoodUltimateThanksErasExceptionDifferent PeoplesVogueCharacter ActorsHollywood Movies Author:David Suchet
“I think there's a dishonorable tradition in Hollywood to give the idea, particularly to children, that evil characters are dark.” ThinkingGivingChildrenIdeasCharacterEvilDarkTraditionHollywoodDishonorableEvil Characters Author:Tilda Swinton
“Hollywood is so strange because a lot of times the battlefield is just a meeting. It's not necessarily like an audition. They've seen clips of you and they know that you can perform and it's a matter of "what is your take on a character"?” KnowsMatterCharacterStrangeHollywoodMeetingsAuditionsBattlefieldsClip Author:Ryan Reynolds
“I may be the only actress in Hollywood who won't need a face lift, because when I take off my makeup, I look so great compared to my characters!” NeedsLooksMayCharacterFacesHollywoodActressesLiftsMakeup Author:Lin Shaye
“It's immoral to parent irresponsibly... And it doesn't help matters any when prime time tv, like "Murphy Brown", a character who is supposed to represent a successful career woman of today, mocks the importance of the father by bearing a child alone, and calling it just another "lifestyle choice." Marriage is probably the best anti-poverty program there is... Even though our cultural leaders in Hollywood, network TV, the national newspapers routinely jeer at [such values] I think most of us in this room know that some things are good, and other things are wrong.” ThinkingKnowsChildrenMatterCharacterHelpingTodayValuesChoicesFatherParentRoomsLeaderCareersPovertySuccessfulTvsCallingProgramHollywoodImportanceLifestyleNewspapersBrownPrimeImmoralMurphyCareer WomenSuccessful CareerPrime TimeLifestyle ChoicesMurphy Brown Author:Dan Quayle
“There's a lot of actors I think that appear so much more together as the characters they portray as opposed to the actual people, so I know I've said this before: Hollywood's not a place where you're rewarded for growing up.” PeopleThinkingKnowsSaidCharacterTogetherActorsGrowing UpGrowingHollywood Author:Ryan Reynolds
“I don't know what the misconceptions are, but I approach a small budget, artsy, independent movie in the same way as a big budget, commercial Hollywood movie. I don't get into those [details]. I have to get into my character and I concentrate on that, on the story, on researching, and on certain training if I have to be prepared physically. I think that's the most important thing.” IfsThinkingKnowsWayImportantCharacterStoriesBigsCertainApproachTrainingHollywoodIndependentImportant ThingsPreparedDetailsBudgetsBe PreparedMisconceptionHollywood Movies Author:Olga Kurylenko
“When I look in the mirror, I see someone who's happy with how he looks, because I was never one of the handsome Hollywood people. And I've had success as I've gotten older, because I'm able to play characters. I no longer get the girl, but I get the part.” PeopleLooksPlayCharacterAbleGirlHollywoodMirrorsHandsome Author:Michael Caine
“I was a hockey player, growing up. Being a big guy and being imposing, I had to use my size to protect my teammates. As an actor, I've been all over the map, but since I've moved to Hollywood, people tend to cast me in these more imposing characters, which is actually really fun for me.” PeopleCharacterUseBigsGuyActorsFunGrowing UpGrowingPlayerProtectHollywoodMovedCastsSizeMapsHockeyTeammateImposingBig GuysHockey Player Author:Kevin Durand
“is grey, and I like that about all the characters, the killer, the driver... the movie has a very unlikely Hollywood ending, at the same time it helps you for a sequel too. Those are the things that I think are attractive, it's more, its real life, and people can identify with it and it just grounds it to a certain degree. That's the reason why.” PeopleThinkingRealReasonCharacterHelpingCertainDegreesHollywoodReal LifeReason WhyAttractiveDriversKillersGreyUnlikelySequels Author:George Tillman, Jr.
“I find often in Hollywood there are many people who play themselves really beautifully. And certain parts are not that dissimilar from who you are as a person. And there are other parts where you would like to think that you have nothing in common with those characters, but you probably do have more than you think.” PeopleThinkingPersonsPlayCharacterCertainCommonHollywoodWho You AreReally Beautiful Author:Carla Gugino
“In my mind what novels do best is that they immerse us deeply into our character's world - they truly transport us deep into these spaces - but the same way you know a Hollywood movie won't end after thirty minutes, you carry in yourself the implicit contract that the novel won't throw you out of itself 'til the very end. That bulk of pages is a form of consolation, of security.” KnowsWorldWayMindEndsCharacterFormSpaceNovelMinutesSecurityPagesHollywoodThirtyContractsConsolationTransportImplicitHollywood Movies Author:Junot Diaz
“I have friends who are leading men, and they're only ever allowed to play leading men of a certain type. But as a character actor, there's a wider variety of projects available. On the big Hollywood films, all they care about is having their lead in place, so it's actually easier for someone like me to slip in. And I'm happy to do so.” MenPlayCharacterBigsCareFilmCertainActorsTypeEasierProjectsHollywoodAvailableLike MeVarietySlipsLead InCharacter ActorsHollywood Films Author:Eddie Marsan
“Poor Hollywood! These things happen all over the world but what a great backdrop to have Hollywood in our movie. No, but I know people who divorce a lot....and have really nice houses. But I didn't model the character on anyone in particular. And if I did, I would never tell the name.” PeopleIfsKnowsWorldCharacterHappensHouseNamesPoorNiceParticularModelsHollywoodDivorceThings HappenReally NiceBackdropNice House Author:Catherine Zeta-Jones
“Once you do a character in Hollywood and people haven't seen you before, they put you in a box and they think that's all that you can do and it's hard to get people to take a risk on you.” PeopleThinkingHardCharacterCan DoRiskHavensHollywoodBoxes Author:Aubrey Plaza
“The thing that I've run up against is that it's always been an either-or proposition, especially in Hollywood. You're either young and glamorous and you're going to get the lead and get the man at the end of the picture, or it's the opposite: you're a character actress, you're not attractive enough for the other role, and so you're playing the friend or the killer or the lesbian or the doctor or whatever.” MenEndsEnoughCharacterRunningYoungRolesHe ManDoctorsHollywoodOppositesActressesAttractiveKillersPropositionsGlamorousEither Or Author:Kathy Bates
“Because I'm a woman, because I'm a character actress, because I'm over 40, I'll be very interested to see, not just for me but for other actresses, how Hollywood treats us in the next ten, fifteen years. I'm hoping that it's not going to be so easy to shove people under the rug, as they have in the past.” PeopleYearsCharacterPastNextEasyTenHollywoodTreatsActressesFifteenFifteen Years Author:Kathy Bates
“I think Night Court was the first thing I did when I came out to Hollywood. It was just one of those things that... I'm from Texas, and it was a character I'd been doing when I was a kid, just for fun.” ThinkingFirstsCharacterKidsNightFunHollywoodCourtJust OneTexasJust For FunNight Court Author:Brent Spiner
“The British tradition, basically, is to go to the character. And the Hollywood tradition, shall we say, is basically to take the character to the performer.” CharacterTraditionHollywoodBritishPerformers Author:John Hurt
“Playing what Hollywood determines is a hero, it immediately sets actors up to feel like they just can't explore the dark parts of themselves - the character has to be likeable, has to be fuckable, has to be redemptive on all fronts. When you're playing a character that's just inherently destructive or messed up, you're given this beautiful permission to try things. There's a license to fail.” FeelsTryingCharacterBeautifulActorsGivenDarkFailingFrontsHeroHollywoodDetermineDestructivePermissionLicenseMessed UpLikeable Author:Jordan Gavaris
“You can't take yourself too seriously. Like, yeah, I'm doin' all that, but still I don't feel like I've done anything, really. I feel blessed 'cause I'm doin' all these things, but I'm not satisfied. I still have that feeling like, "Who am I? Who am I to have an ego? Who am I to change up and act like some Hollywood character?" Technically, in the grand scheme of things, I haven't done anything.” FeelsStillsDoneCharacterFeelingsCausesHavensEgoHollywoodYeahBlessedSatisfiedSchemes Author:J. Cole
“Hollywood didn't know if I was an actor or a nut or if I was this crazy character I was playing. I had developed an image of being a little bit unusual, different and wild.” IfsKnowsLittlesDifferentCharacterActorsBitsCrazyLittle BitHollywoodUnusualNuts Author:Nicolas Cage
“There is a misperception, if you will, in critical response or even in Hollywood, that I can only do exaggerated characters. Or what they would call over-the-top performances. Well, this is completely false.” IfsWellsI CanCharacterHollywoodPerformancesResponseCriticalExaggeratedOver The TopMisperception Author:Nicolas Cage
“People go to the movies instead of moving. Hollywood characters are supposed to have all the adventures for everybody in America, while everybody in America sits in a dark room and watches them have them.” PeopleCharacterAmericaMovingDarkRoomsWatchesAdventureHollywoodPassivityDark RoomMenagerie Book:The Glass Menagerie Source: The Glass Menagerie
“Many in Hollywood viewed the public persona of the young Debbie Reynolds as demure and vulnerable to be a complete facade. Pianist Oscar Levant once quipped, "She's as wistful as an iron factory."” CharacterYoungPersonalityHollywoodVulnerableIronFactoriesOscarsPersonaPianistFacadeDemure Author:Elizabeth Taylor
“I've never been turned down for a role because I'm gay. I'm a character actor, and that's probably why. I don't find Hollywood, in my own experience, to be homophobic. ... But I do think the straight folks will continue to play the straight roles.” ThinkingPlayCharacterActorsMy OwnRolesGayHollywoodFolksLgbtTurned DownCharacter ActorsHomophobic Author:Jane Lynch
“It's a fact, the majority of films in Hollywood are from the male perspective. And the female characters, very rarely do they get to speak to another female character in a movie, and when they do it's usually about a guy, not anything else. So they're very male-centric, Hollywood films, in general. So I think it's incredible that Ned Benson, when I said I'd love to know where she goes, says okay, I'm going to write another film from the female perspective.” ThinkingKnowsWritingSaidCharacterFactsFilmGuySpeakPerspectiveFemaleOkayHollywoodMajorityMalesIncrediblesFemale CharactersHollywood Films Author:Jessica Chastain
“I came across awful characters when I got some kind of status and came to Hollywood. Then you have directors trying to sleep with you, assuming that you will do things because of the way you dress.” WayTryingKindCharacterSleepDirectorsHollywoodDressesAssumingAwful Author:Stacey Dash
“In Hollywood I thought I was large and klutzy, like the characters I played.” CharacterHollywood Author:Madeline Kahn
“I think a lot of times it just looks like Hollywood actors in Halloween costumes, you know? And I think what we’re going to do with Fantastic Four is going to be very grounded and it made sense to me. When I read the script, I didn’t feel like I was reading this larger-than-life, incredible superhero tale. These are all very human people that end up having to become I guess what is known as the Fantastic Four. So for me it was just a really good story and gives me an opportunity to play something different from my own skin. It’s a proper character and that’s my favorite stuff to do.” PeopleThinkingKnowsGivingFeelsHumansLooksMadeDifferentEndsPlayCharacterStoriesReadingActorsOpportunityStuffMy OwnKnownFourHollywoodSkinsGive MeIncrediblesMy FavoriteScriptsTalesFantasticHalloweenGroundedCostumesSuperheroGood StoryLarger Than LifeHalloween CostumeFantastic Four Author:Miles Teller
“In the years since I worked with John Hughes, there were many years where I literally had hundred of doors slammed in my face because I wasn't that kid anymore, and I wasn't a character actor, and I wasn't a leading man, and I wasn't whatever Hollywood was looking for.” MenYearsCharacterKidsFacesActorsDoorsHundredHollywoodCharacter Actors Author:Anthony Michael Hall
“I didn't go Hollywood on the outside with flashy cars, upstairs maids and mink covered bathroom fixtures. I went Hollywood on the inside and that's worst of all. I tried to avoid being natural. I lowered my voice. I copied the mannerisms of other stars. I struck poses. I received bad advice - from dramatic coaches, from agents, and from studio executives. I stopped being a human being. I blame myself and I blame Hollywood's star system.” FirstsHumansCharacterStarsVoiceNaturalHuman BeingsWorstAdviceCarHollywoodBlameStudiosCoachesAgentsDramaticExecutivesCoveredBathroomMovie StarMaidsUpstairsFlashyMannerismsBeing NaturalBad AdviceMinkFixtureFlashy Cars Author:Joan Caulfield