Michelle Forbes Quotes

As a jobbing actor, you can't afford to be choosy; if you're typed, you're generally working. I still feel that way, and the thing is, even within the horror genre, I now get to play all kinds of different roles.

I feel lucky, though, because even when 'Alias' was popular, I was still sent scripts against type. I've never felt like the world only sees me one way. But yes, it's been really fun to be bad.

As far as the lack of hits goes, I think perhaps it's because I've played a lot of different roles and have not created a persona that the public can latch on to. I have played everything from psychopathic killers to romantic leading men, and in picking such diverse roles I have avoided typecasting.

Actors do tend to get pigeonholed. People want to know who you are so they can put you in a box. It's lovely to be known for such diametrically opposite roles.

Being a woman, an actor in Hollywood, I know that there are certain parts I won't often get a chance to do.

Hire me for the next picture. I don't have to just play down-and-out trailer trash and mean, old, wicked, old nuns. I could play a princess or a queen. That's all I wanted to do. Because campaigning does go on. It's a part of selling the film.

I don't think I am restricting myself to doing only comedy; I am hoping that someone offers me something else.

A newcomer needs to be careful as to what kind of role they choose. If you choose something different, you will end up getting typecast. That's why I chose to play a character my age, to keep my options open for the future.

Originally, when I got the role of Lisa [from Visitors], I was a little concerned, because I was worried I would be typecast as an alien for the rest of my life. But they are so, so different that it wasn't at all a problem. I'm very lucky. I'm blessed to be on another show. I think it's going to do really well.

If I only get to play Malaysian roles, there wouldn't be very many roles for me to play.

I prefer working on films. I like the variety. There is nothing better than playing a bad girl for two months, then playing someone sweet for the next two. Films give you this opportunity.

I try to do as many different roles as the system will allow me. That's the benefit of not being in a giant blockbuster where you're the lead and you get typecast in that kind of role. I am able to slip in or out of a lot of different parts.

I think definitely people know me from playing creeps and weirdos, and I'm definitely looking to expand my range.

Television has been really good to me in terms of the roles I've been able to get on TV as opposed to the roles I've gotten in film and in theater.

I've managed to catch lightning in a bottle a couple times. I'm very lucky. But I want to do this forever. I enjoy it so much. One of the challenges as an actor is to stay relevant.

I don't worry too much about typecasting. I just figure, one way or another, I'm going to find another role.

I thought, 'Oh, acting is going to be great - I get to play different parts.' And then these auditions started coming up for terrorist, terrorist, terrorist, and I'm going, 'Whoa, what's this about?'

You don't have the opportunity to win an Emmy unless you're given the opportunity to play certain kinds of roles.

I think all the roles were something that sort of hit me, and I guess I was very lucky to get those roles.

I was lucky to get into drama school and become a professional actor. No-one ever mentioned the colour of my skin. It's only when I came out of RADA - the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art - that I suddenly realised people started to refer to me as a black actor.

I'm always in the market for my acting.

That's all you can do as an actor - take the best thing available.

I think, before 'Watchmen,' I was the guy from 'Grey's Anatomy' who's a pretty good guy, a pretty charming sweet guy, and so as an actor, I really wanted to do something as far from that as I could.

I want to play real characters rather than young leads in very plotty things. I want variety.

It can be difficult to get cast as something that is off-center from you, and my biggest fear is to be typecast.