Allison Janney Quotes

The interesting thing about acting is using all your own stuff and having some kind of personal catharsis while you're working.

When I'm creating a character, I don't see it so much as playing someone else as just playing a specific part of myself under certain circumstances.

I love acting because it's empowering. It empowers me.

I still love finding the soul of the characters I play and defining who they are. This to me is my paint set, and the colors are always exciting to choose.

Acting has always been a way for me to express myself, and show all my vulnerabilities and flaws through my characters.

As an artist, you want to do roles that challenge you and say something.

I think it's much richer and much more fun to be an artist than to be anything else. I can't think of a better life than acting.

Not to get overly psychological about this, but it's probably why I became an actress in the first place: for that kind of freedom and refuge, as well as for the fact that I just love acting so much.

I look for characters that offer me opportunities to explore some aspect of the human condition. I think a lot of actors would say that and would look for that. I've been lucky enough to find projects that let me do that.

It's head and heart. I like to feed both. I always wanted to be an actor. But the cultural-intellectual side of things has always excited me. I wouldn't want to let it go.

Acting is a very personal process. It has to do with expressing your own personality, and discovering the character you're playing through your own experience - so we're all different.

You know one of the things about going from modeling to acting is it's so much more fulfilling. With modeling, you get your picture taken, which is great, good for you, you know? But in acting, you're able to reach in and show a little bit more of yourself.

I don't take roles that are 'just another role.' I'm interested in learning more about myself and about humanity. So it should change you by the time it's done.

Acting is what I do with who I am.

A really fun part of getting to be an actor is exploring those parts of yourself that you wouldn't otherwise explore.

Every once in a while, I'll have an acting role that allows me to look at something in my life and work it out.

I think that's what I really love about acting; all of the social and moral codes of society can be thrown away when you're acting, and it's just you being totally committed to the role.

With acting, it wouldn't be about money: it would be about taking my life experiences and using them to create art.

The thing is, acting is supposed to be fun - maybe not always in a way that's lighthearted, but always in a way that's satisfying.

I don't know how to play myself. I'm not interested enough in myself. That's just not how I was educated. That's not how I learned to become an actor. Acting is creating a character.

The fact that I like to make characters doesn't mean that I like to watch my characters being made, my performance.

I love acting because it's a bit of an escape. It gives you the ability to reinvent yourself. They say that acting is the shy man's revenge.

One of the most important reasons for living is to do something - live outside of yourself and put together an idea, an idea that you want to explore and then complete... Awaken your creative sensitivities!

Acting is therapeutic.

One of the nice things about acting is that it allows you to open up to the other people within you.