When I look at a person, or a character, it is in every case the beginning of an endless journey. And I don't suppose I know where that starts. I know that I have to, like every other person, make decisions and have opinions. But I'm real careful to not judge crassly or cheaply someone else's life.

You have to create a track record of breaking your own mold, or at least other people's idea of that mold.

The greatest single human gift is the ability to chase down our dreams.

Sometimes people call me a success for all the reasons that make me think I'm a failure

The art is about opening, it is not about prejudice, it is not about contempt prior to investigation. It's about endlessly trying to keep from having contempt by admitting that you don't know. Even if you know a lot compared to some other people, usually, I think, the honest experience would be: "God, how little I know! And how much I need to have compassion for myself and for other people."

I know what I love about acting - and it's the creative process

Great risks come in long term, tremendously assiduous, very courageous study.