This basic thing I always do: ‘What happened between the character’s birth, and page one of the script?’ Anything that’s not in the story, I’ll fill in the blanks.
I’ve never had a problem with people paying attention to what you’re doing and say they find that they liked it.
When I have a day off, I won’t spend it at a Hollywood party. I’d rather be at home with paints and a blank canvas.
Jung viewed Freud as a mentor, but he never wanted to be anybody’s disciple.
I try to research or make up for myself what happened in any character’s life. From when he was born until the first page of the script. I fill in the blanks.
Like most people – unless they’re very practised at it or have no warm blood at all in their veins – I feel a little apprehensive about the red carpet. It’s always a bit bewildering when people are taking pictures and asking questions before the ceremony.
I prefer the smaller acting than big histrionics. It’s about reacting and looks, which is often underestimated.
When we shot ‘The Lord of the Rings,’ we had special permission to film in wild areas of New Zealand that could be accessed only by helicopter. They would drop us off and we would work all day, and they’d pick us up and take us out again.
In my opinion, the vast majority of scripts written – as well as most movies that are released – are not very original, well-written, or interesting. It has always been that way, and I think it always will be.
In principle, I think the idea of rewarding a good effort is interesting, but movies are generally different from each other as are performances and the conditions on how the performances are given and how they’re edited and so forth.
I don’t think Adam Sandler or Will Ferrell fear competition from me in their arena.
Most actors can’t make any kind of living.
Awards for arts, where you make comparisons, don’t make much sense.
I have never been in a natural place and felt that it was a waste of time. I never have. And it’s a relief. If I’m walking around a desert or whatever, every second is worthwhile.
I know I said I wanted to live forever and I would never be bored, but the reality is, it’s probably kind of sad to live forever if you’re the only one sticking around.
My goal is just to make movies, whether they’re big or small, that I’d like to see 10 years from now.
‘The Road’ is about that fear that all parents can have. What’s going to happen to your child if you’re not around? It takes those concerns to an extreme. In the film, without me the boy has no food, no shelter, no resources at all.
One of the main ways that leadership stays in power is by, in various ways, convincing people that they should just let those who are in government govern: ‘Trust us. Trust me. Just let us take care of things. Stay out of it.’ Your opinions don’t really matter. You are isolated. You are insignificant.
To be an artist, you don’t have to compose music or paint or be in the movies or write books. It’s just a way of living. It has to do with paying attention, remembering, filtering what you see and answering back, participating in life.
Ignorance breeds antipathy. Until I got to know how computers worked, I didn’t want anything to do with them. I said, ‘Well, why do I need them? I write letters.’ Which I still do.
Life is short and the older you get, the more you feel it. Indeed, the shorter it is. People lose their capacity to walk, run, travel, think, and experience life. I realise how important it is to use the time I have.
It’s very rare you get a great script just handed to you, or sent to you, by someone you don’t know.
Each time I make a movie, it’s like a paid scholarship to a different university course.
Some actors learn the habit of promoting themselves as a brand – by dressing in a certain way, by going out with a certain person – it gives them what they obviously want, which is to keep a level of fame. I’m not putting it down.
The best thing an actor can be is flexible, because all directors are different and all actors are different.
With few exceptions, one ought always do what one is afraid of.
I was raised speaking English and Spanish. And I also speak Danish. And I can get by in French and Italian. I’ve acted in Spanish and English, but when something has to do with emotions, sometimes I feel I can get to the heart of the matter better in Spanish.
On a practical level, poetry isn’t something anybody has really made a great living at. I might sell some books and, once in a while, someone might pay to hear me read.
I like movies that leave you with something to think about, to discuss, to debate, you know?
I mean, any movie or story that makes you accept and be grateful for something about your life is doing something right.
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