Paul Dano Quotes

I feel like a lot of the films I do, part of the reason I like doing them is I'm not 100 percent sure what it's going to be. It's exciting. I read an equal amount of very generic scripts, and you kind of know exactly what those are and that doesn't whet my appetite. I already know what it is or I already know what the character is. It's just a lot harder to get interested.

It's a constant learning process - not just what you need to learn for the character or as far as good actors - but as an actor, there's no limit. Every time now, you're learning so, I think that's a good thing though.

It just so happens that when I was, like, 19 or 20, I got a couple of auditions and got a couple parts with good people. Of the thousands of auditions where you don't get the part, I've done a couple of jobs where you do it and you're like, "Okay, this is good."

The less acting you have to do, the better, I think.

The first time I went to Daniel's [Radcliffe] apartment to just hang out before, because we're doing this crazy thing together, right away he said, "Do you want to put your hand in my mouth so we can get used to this?" And he was really ready to go. So we broke down any barriers pretty quick.

I think carrying your gut, or your instincts, through all the learning, is one of the most important things. You learn to prepare for a part in different ways, you learn to experiment, what you do for the character - you try working in different ways.

I went to tranny bars and kind of got used to being around that and then getting dressed up.

Being actors is a strange job. To try to go live that out, it's a very strange thing to want to do when you step back and think about it.

Reading the script [Insane Farting Corpse], by page two or three, I felt that way. I thought, I'm in. It was so beautiful and insane and funny and I wanted to see it happen.

The only constant I can find is hard work.

If I could get myself in an editing room, that'd be trouble. I mean, that's how it works, you know? You leave everything on the field. I would pick apart - I do, even on the first time. More than once is just too much self-destruction. I don't need that.

I was constantly surprised by how things took shape, whether it was something that was funny or [sharp] or some of these more simple, quiet moments in the woods. Honestly I would say everything and nothing. I honestly don't think it's different than on any other film [Swiss Army Man]. I think I would probably ask questions of everything always.

Everything you do, every experience that you have, enlightens you a little bit or worsens you.

I like purple too. I looked up color psychology before doing any house painting, because I was curious what the colors I like mean. And purple is very royal and creative.

I think it was a lot of trust as well [between me and Daniel Radcliffe]. If we didn't have that, it could be a very painful film [ Swiss Army Man] to go make.

[Swiss Armi Man] was a super joyful film to go make. I mean, there was stuff that was, like, totally bananas. But it was kind of par for the course every day with that stuff.

I started acting pretty young, so I haven't had too many odd jobs. But I used to sell candy out of my locker in middle school.

Of course I think it's a movie for everybody [Insane Farting Corpse], but that's probably just because it's a movie for me.

I remember going to the theatre when I was little and the lights going down and just getting really scared about what was going to happen up there.

I try to leave my work at the door when I leave the set. It's almost like summer camp. You go in hard, then you leave, and it's done.

This is so lame to say in a magazine, but I just grabbed some pink wallpaper. I find it to be a very relaxing color.

One of my favorite films is 'Dumb and Dumber.' I'd love to do some really silly comedy someday.

I was actually thinking about starting like an app where you can watch videos of me carrying Daniel [Radcliffe in Swiss Army Man].

The only exercise I get is playing sports because I hate the gym. I try to learn to love it.

I feel like having something that you're passionate about helps to keep you young.

As your career progresses, you hope that you get some more opportunity, or some more choice.

I know that part of why I was excited to do this was the sense of play and childlike wonder and the spirit that's in the Daniels' work. I think we're tracking some issues that are actually quite sad or lonely but I think in a joyful, creative way. So I like that balance. I think singing in the woods, the music and spirit of that - there's something very pure about the film [Swiss Army Man].

Michael Caine is so happy. Happy and healthy. I think he enjoys life. I think he's 82 now, and I have no clue if I'll be working at that age.

I always have an adjustment period where I'm so happy to be home, but then my sense of purpose is totally gone.

I would like to do something really big and then something really small, and see what it's like to work in that way, but in front of a live audience.

I dont normally like getting dressed up, but when I go to events, I like to look put together. Ive got to say, getting in a nice suit feels good.

I'm really excited to share the movie [Swiss Army Man] with people, so I'm glad that people are seeing it. And I want them to, because I think it's a really fun movie to experience sitting next to people. It makes it funnier. It makes it more comfortable. It makes it sweeter.

On set, the playground for the character, how much it takes varies. Is it like ballet, is it like jazz? The content always lends itself to the form, and it's really not mathematics.

I love that it's such an uncynical film [Swiss Army Man]. I think it's got a lot of love in there, and I think that's a nice thing in this day and age.

I think I was almost 12, so I knew who George C. Scott was, but if I could work with George C. Scott now, I'd be so pumped.

I regretted not being a person in shape many a day while we were making this film [Swiss Army Man].

When somebody mentions that I did a play with George C. Scott, I'm like, it can't have happened. What was I doing on a Broadway stage at 11 years old? It's so far in the distance now.

I would say that the emotional content of the film [Swiss Army Man] took me by surprise, and sometimes I would probably want to capture the unique tone of it.

For me, playing a really bad character is about figuring out what brought the person to where we need him.

If you could call me buff, my version of buff was when I finished that film [Swiss Army Man].

My first thought about acting, growing up here in New York, was theater, and I feel like I need to force myself to go get my ass kicked in a rehearsal room and do one of those plays at some point.

You try to get to know your character as best as you can before you start filming - whats written and not written.

I approach every role from scratch.

My favorite color is blue, and my secret favorite color is pink.

I think there was a lot of working out the arc of how Manny [Daniel Radcliffe] talks. Scene to scene [in the Swiss army Man], if I would start talking a little too well, they would come in and say like, "Hey, you need to [dial back] your ability to speak" - things like that.

I feel like rumors get crazy and people blow up the whole internet with news. I feel like, once you're doing a job, you shouldn't talk about it.

I love cereal. I eat several bowls a day, mostly a few late at night.

I think that one of the strangest things about being an actor is, it's almost freelance work.