Viola Davis Quotes

When I first did a U.S. pilot season, there were very few British actors schlepping around town trying to get into television. That was 1999.

I was going to move to New York after college and had no interest in pilot season. I'd seen what happened on TV shows because of my dad, and I didn't want to open myself up to that. But 'Pretty Little Liars' had a very early audition, and my agents encouraged me to go even though I didn't think it would be my thing.

I was an actor for over a year before I ever saw a play.

I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.

I never understood actors who could just wait around.

The condition of being an actress can be unbearable.

Pilot season can be maddening. You're basically putting yourself and your talent out there to be scrutinized several times a day for months by network executives who have probably never acted in anything since their junior high school production of 'The Wiz.'

You suffer as an actor. It's difficult to be an actor and live a good life, especially today.

I thought I'd be doing theater, really. That's all I had experience with growing up. I mean, I saw movies and television, but I don't think I really connected at a young age that that was acting, that that was part of the profession.

'Rent' was my first professional job, ever.

I'm a working actor, so I do pretty much whatever comes along because it's my job.

Sure, I'd love to be on primetime, but if I'm blessed enough to be picked up by another soap, thank God! It's so hard out there. And when you're not working, you feel horrible. You don't know when you'll get the next job. You don't know how long the soap genre will be around. I want to help keep these shows on the air and keep everybody working!

Being an actor can be a lonely life.

As an actor, it seems like we're always trying to get a job, so when you actually have a job, it's just amazing to get to work on your art on a daily basis and do what you love.

Before 'New Girl,' I had just been grinding in TV for a really long time. I had been testing for so many shows and not getting them. You don't know how difficult it is or how lucky you have to be - and I only say lucky because there are so many people out there - to get a show on the air and keep it going.

I want to walk the bases - I want to do all the actor-y stuff.

A lot of people say, 'What's the worst part about being an actor?' And the worst part is that you're not a musician.

I think I understand why most actors and actresses are insane, because having to go through an emotional roller coaster as your job every day of your life would make somebody absolutely loopy.

As an actor, you're never supposed to complain about being too busy because it can go the other way real fast.

It's my life's aim to make people understand the job of an actor, what they go through, and why they are such a protected species. People see the glamour part of it. But there's so much stress that often you don't even pay attention to the luxuries.

As an actor, I know roles go away. You get another job.

I was the first person in the family to be an actor.

As an actor, I feel there isn't much to explore on TV. So, if I get better work as a host, why wouldn't I do it?

The acting bug first bit when I went to see 'Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead' at the Old Vic.

My whole initial goal was to be a comedian, so it's not like I chose to do a TV show out of nowhere. It's kind of always been goal to do a TV show.