Terrence McNally Quotes

I like working with different directors; it keeps you on your toes.

The cool part of being an entertainer is getting the opportunity to get your feet wet in all areas.

When it comes to partnership, some humans can make their lives alone - it's possible. But creatively, it's more like painting: you can't just use the same colours in every painting. It's just not an option. You can't take the same photograph every time and live with art forms with no differences.

I think it's an actor's responsibility to change every time. Not only for himself and the people he's working with, but for the audience. If you just go out and deliver the same dish every time... it's meat loaf again... you'd get bored. I'd get bored.

Obviously I'd love to work with any of these great directors because every time I've worked with them I've gained a tremendous amount as an actor. Each director has his own way of pushing you towards improving yourself.

I love being on sets with very seasoned directors as well as very new directors. Every time is a discovery process. You learn something new every time.

I got involved in lots of different areas round about 2007, 2008. Just working with lots of different people and stretching myself in different ways. I was working on art projects and working with other writers, just doing bits and pieces, trying to keep busy.

I want to work with as many directors as possible because with each director, you learn something new.

But the best part about being actors and married to each other is that you can discuss work and take feedback from each other.

When you work with a DeNiro or Hoffman, they love what they do so much that there's never any competitive vibe. It's more about how do we do this thing together.

Good actors are a dime a dozen, but I want actors that are gonna be part of my team and collaborative.

Every time I collaborate with an artist, I want to surprise fans. I want to do something new.

I've gotten to work with some wonderful directors and people who have been great teachers to me.

Rodgers & Hart had a few flops before they clicked. You know, it happens. I don't know anyone who always gets away with everything.

I'm interested in all forms of performance, yet I think it's difficult to be as equally talented in all of them as they call for such different skills. At the moment, I still feel I'm learning and want as much experience and variety as possible.

I love to work with performers that are very different to me.

In effect, I feel like a blind, deaf, and illiterate person working through the sensibilities and multiple, real talents of other people. Everything I do is collaborative.

Anyone who has been given the gift of being opposite an actor who gives and gives, it just makes you better.

I've certainly worked with really great directors who haven't acted.

When you're acting and directing, you're standing there acting with another actor, and you're trying to do your performance, and at the same time you're watching their performance, and making sure the lights are in the right place, and if the person is wearing the right wardrobe. All these things are going on in your head.

There is a general knowledge that I am multi-dimensional, that when you are creative you do a lot of things.

Acting is the work of two people - it's only possible when you have the complicity, the help, even the manipulation of a director.

My idea is just to do something different each time; the next thing I do has to be completely different to the thing I've done before - that's what I try and do, because you know, I'm an actor, not a film star.

The great fun for me is these collaborators. I'm nothing by myself. Being with these people, whether it's the 'Homeland' cast or stage collaborators, they make you everything you are. They make you come to work. They make you be alive.

You hope and pray that you'll get involved with a director that you understand and who has the same sensibility as you do and knows how to push you and bring out the best in you.