Courtney B. Vance Quotes

I once literally had a casting director ask my agent, 'Can she play anything other than a drunk?'

I used to play a lot of foreign women in my youth because I was prettier then. I would go for interviews, and directors would look at these sultry, exotic looks, hear this clipped accent and think the two don't go together. So they would give me a foreign accent.

When I was cast as Gendry, I didn't have any of the physical attributes the part required. I was astounded that I got the role, to be honest.

Not until somebody turns round and says, 'Art, how do you fancy playing Charles Dickens? How do you fancy playing Prince Charles in this biopic?' Until those movements come, then no, we haven't got past anything.

I never get the tall, blonde, glamorous roles because I'm not tall, blonde and glamorous. I'm more the wee, disturbing characters because of the way I look or sound.

I'm an actor. I'll take a lead if it's offered. The really good actors can fill a character, no matter what the role is. A good leading man is a character actor; a good character actor can be a leading man.

In fact, I'll be taking a lot of Cathy Gale with me. I expect that was why I was chosen for the part.

A lot of film stars are just playing themselves in different frocks.

Even at drama school if there was a part of some eastern European thug it would be me.

Most times when people pitch you as being perfect for a part... they don't look at you as an actor who can transform. A lot of people are so literal.

Why people pick me for the roles that they do is a bit of a mystery.

I have a secret aspiration to be considered for a part where it doesn't matter what you look like to play it.

I'm very delighted they didn't choose to do the very musical episode of 'Once Upon a Time' when Ariel came in because I probably wouldn't have been the best girl for the job!

Now, learning how to make a movie is something you can figure out in about an afternoon. The physics of it, the marks, the lights, etc. What's hard to do is to suspend your own feelings of self consciousness. The natural actors can do that; they can become part of a characterization and learn how to maintain it.

I guess every actor has certain emotions they can access easier than others.

The great amount of fun that I have is I can cast dramatic actors to play comedic roles, and I can cast comedic actors to play dramatic roles because, really, there's no such thing. There's just actors.

I remember auditioning for the Wonder Woman television show and being told that I wasn't the Wonder Woman type, but if I wanted to play the best friend, I could audition for that.

I am always surprised to be chosen by a director for a role because I never understand why they like me.

I think you get the parts that people are comfortable with seeing you play.

I don't mind it so much if I get type cast as an authority figure. I get to do comedy no matter what it is, so it doesn't bother me.

I am no glamorous prop waiting to be presented as a showpiece in a film. Filmmakers have to look beyond that.

I strongly believe that when you are cast in a role, there will be similarity in the character and you - why else would you be chosen for the character?

I look at my early career, and you know, when I left drama school, for a young Asian actor, you could either play a doctor on 'Holby City,' or you could play a terrorist in 'Spooks' and get to wear a nice shiny suit.

I had a casting director tell me to be blacker.

Every actor is great in his own right but certain actors suit certain roles.