Andrew Niccol Quotes

I cannot watch my own dailies, ever. I'm my worst critic. It distracts me. I can watch it when it's done, but I'm not the girl that wants to run back and look at the performance.

My weakness as an actor is that I think too much.

I'm so super-critical of everything that I do.

I was a terrible actor. The analytical part of my mind never quite let go.

I think if you start to think too much about things that are completely out of control, it will just drive you crazy as an actor.

My mind is always going. I'm always thinking what I need to do, what I haven't done, what I did do, what I didn't do as well as I could - I'm relentless that way with myself.

I don't often see the movies I'm in; I'm usually disappointed in myself and it only serves to make me self-conscious.

I honestly have never really even watched some other things I've done. I don't like doing that to be honest.

I am always in self-doubt... every moment of my filmmaking. I am supremely confident when the story is being written and everything is in our head. But the moment we get into the filmmaking, I start doubting myself - from the camera angle to the re-recording to getting the actors to do their shots.

I really can't watch myself. I just get too in my head about it and start overthinking everything.

I was spending too much time thinking about how I was doing, if I was learning everything I was supposed to be learning during this difficult season, whether I was doing it right or not, taking my spiritual pulse, etc - my inner lawyer was working overtime.

If you become very self-conscious about what you are doing, you kill. You kill the character. Then it doesn't work. You have to come from a sincere place. And you don't think too much. I don't go to the hotel and I start thinking what am I going to say tomorrow and start writing things down.

I often don't see what I've done, or I cringe when I watch myself.

Every time I do a play, it's as if I've never done one before. I'm always confused. I always am convinced I'm going to be fired. I'm like, 'I don't remember how to act. I don't know how to do this.' And, it's just a very slow process, and then, all of a sudden, it's just there one day. I still don't understand how it happens.

When I direct and have to look at filmed scenes of myself, I suck.

I think one thing that's important to maintain is a sense of fear, always doubting yourself... a good dose of insecurity helps your work in some ways.

I actually have to pick and chose stuff that I know I'm going to bomb at.

Well, the real Eric Bogosian is pretty self-conscious of himself.

I struggle to watch myself in any scene, to be honest. What's done is done. I wish I was able to watch myself, as it would really help me develop as an actor. But I'm not brave enough. It's a difficult thing to do - looking at yourself as this utterly different person on a screen.

I wonder why I keep playing such intelligent people?

It can be a little distressing to have to overintellectualize yourself.

I question every move. I'm constantly second-guessing myself.

I always say I've given 24 insufficient performances and I'm looking forward to the time in my life when I'll do something that I think is good. There's always stuff you can do better, stuff that maybe you didn't uncover enough. But if you do something that you truly believe is perfect, then that's got to be the last movie you do.

Sometimes I find myself in this super-raw place onstage where I'm like, 'Maybe that's not the best thing. Maybe I need to shut down a little.'

I'm usually very critical of myself.