Theater acting is an operation with a scalpel, movie acting is an operation with a laser

I've been acting a long time, and I can play a Cockney gangster or a womanizer in my sleep or standing on my head. But what I try to do is I try to find characters that are as far away from me as I possibly can and then make them real. A French Nazi is about as far away from me as I can possibly get without actually going to Mars or something.

I don't work very much, and I just sit here waiting for a script that I can't refuse - and I'm not talking about money.

I don't meet stockbrokers or carpenters or coal miners; I spend all day with actors, composers and photographers.

When I was 6 my father went to fight in the war, so he was my big hero. I thought he was the greatest thing.

When becoming a character, you have to steal. Steal whatever you see. You can even steal from other actors' characterizations; but if you do, only steal from the best.

My dialogue coach said to do a Texas accent, you lean on the next word, and that was the clue to me.