Top 44 Marcia Gay Harden Quotes

There are certainly a billion, ker-trillion girls out there more attractive than I am.

Everybody says ‘Good Morning’ in Harlem because it’s true! And that’s lovely.

You have to make sure that you and your child are connecting, and it does help when they are looking directly into your eyes.

The important thing is that when you correct your children, they see what they’ve done wrong and why you’re upset.

Doing theater is such a specifically energetic and almost acrobatic work.

Working on ‘King Of Texas’ was a life experience for me.

The trophy wife must be in her 20s to earn the title ‘trophy wife.’

You know what I miss? I miss myself, that time to just do things for myself.

It’s very hypocritical to constantly say, ‘We want to keep our kids close,’ then send them home with so much homework that family time becomes nonexistent.

I have a theory that there’s almost this primal viewpoint on women in the business, that once you’re beyond childbearing age, you are perceived as nonthreatening, nonsexual, noncastable. Sure, I already knew it before I got into it. I just didn’t know I’d end up making my living from low-budget, independent films.

In my opinion, Zac Efron is a total hero. Him seeking help encourages other people with addictive issues to seek help. It’s brave of him.

I loved playing Anne Bancroft, because she was so wonderfully arch.

I’m not a big fan of mediocre.

As a mother, I love the Leapster handheld because it really delivers on educating children while they play. My daughter enjoys it because it’s fun and touches on all of the activities she is interested in – videos, books and art.

So far, the thing I seem to have been rewarded for in film is leaving myself behind and transforming myself into other people.

You’ve got to understand what makes the character human.

You can manipulate the viewer in film. With theater, what you see is what you get.

People have such false perceptions of how stardom really works.

I was always an exhibitionist. I liked it when everyone laughed. But I didn’t do plays in high school. I was too nervous.

A New York casting director, who shall remain nameless, once said to me, ‘Marcia, you have what I call the flaring-nostril look, and until you get something done about it, you will never, ever work.’

With any tween, you have issues, from what they are going to wear to school, to how do you get them to speak politely, to how regularly they lose their contact lenses.

If you think someone committed a crime, you should turn them in to whomever you perceive authority to be.

I had a science teacher in middle school who inspired me… simply because she acknowledged me and made me feel that what I had to offer was worthy.

I was always the child who wore her emotions on her sleeve.

You want people – I want people to relate to me as a character. I want them to go, ‘That could have been me,’ or, ‘I know someone like that.’

I’m just a pack mule. I’ve played leads and I’ve played character roles. Any actress in Hollywood will tell you as your age climbs, the leads thin.

Oh, I just love being a character actress. You have a lot of fun, and not only that, you save tons on cosmetic surgery because you never have to have liposuction.

You’re over there in the corner either thinking about the dead dog or whatever, you’re bringing up your personal life and you need the space, and then somebody throws you a joke. Especially if it’s an emotional scene, you don’t want the joke.

I don’t think any extremism is rational.

I’m always a little starstruck anyway. So to work with a movie star, which is Brad, I was excited about that; to work with a movie legend, which is Tony, I wouldn’t have passed that up. Just to get to watch him and watch how he works.

I examine other people’s characteristics, so when I’m playing characters, I don’t always have to make them me; I can transform into others.

Harlem is a very family-oriented neighborhood, and it always has been.

Isn’t it nice not to have to compartmentalize yourself?

My schools were quite diverse – those who serve their country come from every race and religion – and so the military schools I attended were a wonderful melting pot.

Sometimes in film and television, I don’t have the opportunity to play roles that really stretch and challenge me.

I’ve been so lucky to work with some great, great writers: Tony Kushner and Yasmina Reza.

Back in the days of Barbara Stanwyck and Bette Davis, beauty wasn’t the be-all and end-all it is today.

Sometimes I ride my bike to see the kids after a matinee and then ride back to do the show. That’s the hard part, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

In my kids’ school, the married family is an anomaly… which I do think is sad. I do believe in marriage.

You want to know how I’m feeling? Just look at me, and I’ll tell you how I’m feeling. Nothing is hidden. I’m all out there. I cry like a baby, I get upset, I stamp my feet. I’m not stoic.

I love physical comedy. I adore comedy of any kind.

I love it when ugliness is beautiful. I love character flaws.

I do pottery.

I’m fortunate to have a team of people who help me. I’ve got an assistant, an office manager, a nanny – she’s not full-time, but she’s there when I need her.