Ben Gazzara Quotes

I've struggled a lot to get where I am. I initially got rejected by every producer. But no complaints. I enjoyed each and every moment of the struggle. My first break came in 1997 from Krishna Vamsi and then Puri Jagannadh, who is my closest friend. I owe everything I am to him. Our careers have evolved simultaneously.

When I booked 'Hairspray,' I really didn't have a support system other than my family and friends.

I've had a lot of failures as well and rejection. As actor, it's actually mostly rejection but people think it's mostly success because they only see your successes - the films that get made.

I never thought about the actors on television or film, like what kind of life they had.

I haven't given up on acting, but I've gone away from it for a while to concentrate on myself and the fans of 'Star Wars.'

I never doubted that I would work, and every time I went to an audition, I went into the room with the knowledge that I was going to get the part. Ninety-nine times out of 100, I didn't.

I auditioned for 'American Sniper' and didn't get a role.

I don't see myself being an actress forever.

I was only a leading man for a minute; now I'm a character actor.

I had a Taco Bell audition where I had to wear a huge sombrero and walk around like an idiot. I got call-backs for the movie 'Twister,' did small independent stuff that I won't name. But it led to all my breakthrough moments on 'Entourage.'

When I was starting out in Hollywood, everything was such a battle.

Growing up, I always had my dreams set on being an actor, so I looked up to Julia Roberts, Audrey Hepburn.

Definitely, I did not, after 'SNL,' say, 'OK, first I'll go be in Alexander Payne's movie.' I thought I might go back to writing, to be honest.

I turned down 'The Prime of Miss Jean Brody' with Maggie Smith. I think she got the Academy Award.

I remember when I was about 18, Sean Penn made a bet with me. He had just directed his first movie, and he's like, 'By the time you're 30, I will bet you $500 that you'll be sick of acting.' I'm still waiting to collect, because I'm not.

I've always wanted to work with my friend Al Pacino.

I dreamed of one day starring in a film. I've done that twice. Denzel Washington has done it countless times, so I still got some work to do.

I turned down 'American Gigolo.' There are many films - like 'Ghostbusters' - that I turned down... The first one I did was 'Foul Play' with Goldie Hawn, but I turned down 'Animal House' - I turned that down.

After the Oscar for 'Shampoo,' I had a sense, even as I was walking up to get it, that this was the height of where I was going to go as an actress. And I felt that now was the time, if I wanted a longer life in the arts, that I had to jump from acting to directing.

When I moved out to L.A., I went on 156 auditions before I booked a single thing.

I am no champion, no great name, just a small actor who loves working for cinema.

After my debut in 2001 in 'Aks,' where I had a small part, I had to work really hard to get work in the industry. For almost three years, I had no work.

Life is a lot more fun with good, positive people around you.

I knew that I was just one of those actors who came to Mumbai to achieve their dreams. I knew that nobody would welcome me with open arms and auditions were the only way to get a chance.

The most common experience in my life is rejection. I've done over 300 auditions. No amount of drama school training can prepare you for that, in theory.