I didn't understand how you could be an actor if you didn't also study philosophy and study political science, astronomy. And also just go out and live life and have experiences.

I never want to repeat the same thing. I always want it to be different from what I've done, and to be not quite sure whether or not I can pull it off, until I hopefully do.

I think one thing for sure that you learn the more films that you make is how important it is to choose your collaborators.

Living in Cuba made me unafraid of whatever could happen to me.

The most intoxicating thing about being an actor is to surrender to a story that you never would have come up with.

Early rejections are really tough, especially when all of your friends who you went to school with now have legitimate jobs, are getting married, having children, buying real estate, being adults. And you're still trying to figure out how to make a living doing the thing you think you love, but you're not even sure yet because you haven't even done it. It was a long road of risk and treachery.

If you play it safe every time, then you're missing the best part of acting. You haven't learned anything about your humanity.