Mekhi Phifer Quotes

I am a professional actor, and I don't go about moralizing about what the character does. Otherwise, seriously, why be an actor? You're not making some kind of social statement. That's not what actors do.

When you cast, you can't cast only visually; you have to cast emotionally, too.

I work a lot; I love to compose, ponder, and take notes when preparing for a role. I cut all the scenes, collate the images, form the character and shape its personality, then I make meticulous notes and transcribe each scene on my notebook.

I was the last one to screen test for The Hardy Boys. I'd like to play that's not as clean-cut as Frank Hardy. I play him as straight as possible.

If I prepare myself for a character, for a role, I always try to understand her.

I don't think I had a script on 'King Kong.' But usually you read a script and then you go and audition for it. It's rare when there's no script. I sort of like the latter better, because I'm more successful at it.

I need to react to a script, to feel strongly about it in some way. And I need it to be a complex character for sure. And also, I think a lot about what kind of audience there is for the film, what they're looking for and ways to connect with them in the playing of a character.

I never really thought about what characters I play. I always just wanted different characters.

Being an actor myself I realize that all actors believe they are qualified to play any role. If you showed me a script with a black woman character I would tell you that I could do it. That is what we do. We act as if we are someone else.

I would love to play Bobby in 'Company.' Also, I would love to play George in 'Sunday.'

Matching character and actor is what a good director does.

I'm still fighting really hard to get any role I get. If it's comedy, I go for the laughs. And if it's drama, I try to tell the truth, and try to play the real stakes of whatever scenario the character's in.

Well, I've always been a character actor, you know, and you always get your share of character actors who are bad guys. So it never surprises me. And if it's good writing, you can find your way into the part well enough.

When you watch it, you're like, Wow. I look like that. But it doesn't feel like that at all. It was about communicating with Gale Harold and getting across what I wanted to say about the character.

Any sort of role requires a certain amount of research and embodiment of the character and psychological investigation.

Casting is storytelling.

When you get to set, you don't try to play the plot; you just play the character.

As an actor, your first priority is the work - immersing yourself in the role, backstory, and bringing that to screen.

I really enjoy playing intelligent characters. I'm more interested in that than just emotional kind of Mum characters.

When I'm reading a script and I see the word 'lumbering' I go, 'Oh, that's probably the part they want me to read for.'

The character in 'Arya' was so close to my real life persona. The director saw me once and felt I was the right guy for the role because my body language was so flamboyant. In real life, too, I am very peppy and full of life.

I like to prepare for my roles well, so you can call me a method actor to an extent.

Being an actor, I have no issues with a character being negative or positive as long as the role is substantial and meaty.

For me, when my agents and reps send me a script, I read it through, just for the story purpose of it, and then I read it again to think of my character and see if it's something that I'm interested in bringing to life.

I don't choose characters according to looks. I'm comfortable doing both glamorous and non-glamorous roles.