Paul Greengrass Quotes

'Medea' is an enormous challenge for an actor physically, mentally, emotionally. You have to dig very, very deep, and to work, your performance has to be very personal.

Well, as an actor, at least from my standpoint, I can't not like who I'm playing.

Every actor has to love and loathe the character he plays.

It's absolutely true that it's almost impossible to play a character without having any affection for him.

What really motivates you to try to work things out as an actor is in large part fear, because you want to get into that narrative and bring the audience along.

You have to love the guy that you play, even if you play the villain, you've got to love him.

Chris Guest has his own form. It's a way of working that is really intense, and you can commit a lot, and you focus a lot. You get to bring a lot. You get to bring things maybe you haven't seen before. You're asked to care a great deal for these people who you're playing and create heart and empathy.

All those little acting rules you get, one of the interesting ones is, 'Play the opposite. Don't play 'victim.'

Sometimes I'm playing somebody that I may have a problem with. Your job as an actor is not to go only play things that make you look good.

When I got the audition for 'Big Little Lies,' I knew this project was going to be different than anything I'd ever done. That didn't change the way I approached the role.

Obviously, as an actor, when you re playing a real person, it is an extra challenge.

I've never been that comfortable with the acting thing. It's difficult for me to separate what's really going on. If there's kissing, that's kissing. I'm not acting; I don't know how.

Once you begin shooting, Bollywood actors get totally involved in their roles, and that gives you an edge in getting what you want out of them.

At a certain point in my career, I was probably having a difficult time 'holding space.' So you get a character that has to be commanding in order for him to resonate and make sense.

I've had scenes where I had to cry, and by the time I've cried for the 20th time, I'm exhausted.

'Heirs' became an emotional experience for me. I had a hard time bringing out my emotions in the series. I used all my physical and emotional energy to bring out all that acting.

If you're doing gags, I think it's important to have characters who are as strong-willed and impactful as possible.

Every great movie is about the people, even if it's a great popular success like 'Gone With the Wind.' It's really not about the Civil War. It's about Scarlett and Rhett. That's who you go to see. You're not going to root for the North or pull for the South, or, you know, it's the people you remember.

I believe in the fact that to portray a character convincingly, you need to live that character, own that character. You have to be earnest with every line that you deliver. However, it doesn't mean that you have to cut off your true self.

In normal life, we are all sweet and not vamp. So, to play a villain a lot of focus is required.

I am a known actor who wants to challenge himself in difficult roles. I am not a star but an actor, so I am always looking for strong scripts and strong roles.

You can do a whole scene in acting without ever checking in to what the other guy is saying - it's not going to come off great, but you can get through the scene - whereas in improv, that's gonna be impossible.

I generally make a point to finish my shot in the initial couple of takes with the goal that the execution would be genuine, and it naturally makes a great deal of strain.

If there's nothing interesting about a character, people leave because there's no desire to see what happens.

It was really fun to play a period piece because I've never done that before and it's completely different.