Diana Rigg Quotes

It's always a mystery when you're going into a role - 'Here's your wife of 40 years and... action!' How do you create ease or chemistry or whatever is supposed to exist?

An actor matures with experiences, and the more the emotions he/she has been through, the greater the intensity of performances.

It turned out to be exactly that, but more challenging emotionally. I looked at it in a more physical way, having to act in a chair and move around. But it really was more emotionally challenging.

Acting is strenuous, both physically and mentally. But if you are passionate about it, nothing can be more exciting than acting.

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.

I am trained in theatre, and so I take time to study and get into the skin of a character.

For an actor, it's not like you have to go crazy to do an intense role.

I told him that I can play it if he wanted to write it, and I would be willing to try and go there emotionally. I did not know as an actress if I would be able to get there, because when you feel really deep emotions or pain, you don't want to go back there.

I had to focus and create a character in Bagger Vance, not just do my 'Will Smith' thing and get paid.

As an actor, you try to bring as much of yourself to a part to try and create a feeling of authenticity and emotional truth and resonance.

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 imagine anything more debilitating, anything more challenging, anything more thrilling than to get on a stage and do any kind of play. It is such a vulnerable place for any actor to be in.

No actor ever forgets a role, so I should have realized something was wrong.

I have just gained a deeper and deeper respect for acting and the whole art of it because you're really trying to live a life and to do the best justification for it.

If you really do want to be an actor who can satisfy himself and his audience, you need to be vulnerable. You must reach the emotional and intellectual level of ability where you can go out stark naked, emotionally, in front of an audience.

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

I think if you work as an actress and are supposed as a character to be in love with some actor, then to some extent you do have to be in love with him.

It's a surprisingly sacrificial job being an actor.

As an actor, you are aware of how a role can seep into your real life.

It was my first straight dramatic role, and the most adult, intelligent one I have ever played.

When you are developing a character you have to bring so much of yourself to the role.

When I get a role, I try to delve as deeply as possible into the character.

I don't really prepare for each role the same way.

It is scary for an actor when you get hired as a lead. No matter what the plot is, it is your job to do something interesting enough to make them want to get inside the lead character's head.

As an actor, I have to be fulfilled in the roles that I play; it has to be a journey for me to learn something or involve myself.