My experience as a young actor on network television was that I couldn't make it work. I was drowning as an actor.
James Badge DaleYou spend all this time, as a child, coming up with these fantasy stories, and here I am, sleeping in a treehouse, in the middle of Canyon de Chelly, shooting a Western. That's a bit of a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
James Badge DaleI always like playing the bad guys. They have more fun! I want a director to come up to me and say, "You can't get too weird!" That's a good thing. I loved hearing that. Let me play. I like to play around.
James Badge DaleI'm a pretty private person, so I'd like to say I'm a good ear and that I keep my mouth shut.
James Badge DaleWe're just one cog in this giant machine. You show up and look at all the other cogs like, "Wow, everyone is the best at what they do." You're in really good hands. And that frees you up to play and feel safe, and you can take chances, creatively. You can take risks. I want to show up to work and take risks. I don't ever want to play it safe.
James Badge Dale