Juliet Stevenson Quotes

For a long time I managed to think two things simultaneously, that I am actually a good playwright, and that the next time I write a play I will be revealed as someone who is no good at all.

I was always afraid to write music.

You feel yourself working to show something. I've learned to distrust that feeling.

Auditioning is a horrible experience because you know you are being absolutely scrutinized and judged. There are days where you can do it and days where it's just not happening, and I feel like that's how it is with all artists; you have some days it kind of works.

I have a hard time sometimes watching my own work.

I know I have trouble watching my own films.

I felt unworthy to play Jesus. I just accepted the responsibility and said, 'What actor wouldn't want to play this role?'

During rehearsals I am confronted by things very mysterious. I have terrific fights with inner demons, and it's more painful than it ever was.

Editing yourself is like an irksome coin toss. You've got to strip yourself of super ego and operate from the id. Maybe I've got my Freud mixed up. It's just hard to trade a beauty shot for the performance with truth and a brightly lit zit.

I find it difficult to explain, but I'm quite ashamed of being an actress.

I love to take actors to a place where they open a vein. That's the job. The key is that I make it safe for them to open the vein.

I can't deal with actors! I can't deal with myself. We're neurotic and miserable ... I love doing what I'm doing, but while I'm doing it, I'm miserable.

I have many moments of self doubt. Everybody does.

If I spent my time worrying about what other people would think of my work, I would be too self-conscious to write.

But I'm guessing every actor is insecure.

Most of the time I feel stupid, insensitive, mediocre, talentless and vulnerable - like I'm about to cry any second - and wrong. I've found that when that happens, it usually means I'm writing pretty well, pretty deeply, pretty rawly.

As an actor, you're constantly riddled with self-doubt. You are your own worst critic.

No actor who's any good can say truthfully to themselves, 'Yeah, I'm good; I've got this sorted.'

I think the reason I was 23 before I ever wrote a song was that I was afraid of testing myself. What would I do if I discovered I didn't have anything to say?

All artists have insecurity.

I was like, 'Josh Tillman, you are not a songwriter. You are an ape. Stop thinking of yourself as a songwriter.'

The only thing I can do is act, but it's not something I even feel comfortable doing. It costs me a lot, because I'm a shy person, even if I don't look it.

These days I am ruled by doubt, and that is a difficult place to write from.

You can't be a human and a guy and not connect with Pippin... I often feel like Pippin. I come offstage sometimes like 'Oh my God, I've got to do this next time! I've gotta go there. I'm going to make this choice.'

Even now, I have traces of the good little girl. When I am not performing, for instance, I am really very quiet and ordinary.