Viola Davis Quotes

I'd like to be in a play with Mark Rylance.

In 2009, Scott Rudin sent me August's [Wilson] original screenplay [Fences] and asked me what I wanted to do with it. He wanted to know if I wanted to act in it, direct it or produce it. I said, "Well, let me read it first."

My English teacher always gave me scripts for plays, but I was into sports. My friend said there were small parts I could go up for, but the director gave me the part of Mozart, which was kind of the lead role. From then on I just loved it.

I'm an actress who likes a strong, communicative director.

If I were to be cast as Cyrano or a Connecticut prep-school teacher or a gay boutique owner, it would only happen if some director I had worked with in the past said, 'Why don't we give Rispoli a shot at it?'

On the stage, you alone hold the key, and on the night you have to trust that the director has inspired you enough to take the material and run with it.

I think part of the fun of being an actor is getting to work with different directors and seeing their take on it, what they're passionate about. They all have different ideas about your character.

Part of an actor's job, in my opinion, is adjust to the characteristics of the director and try to understand to how he tries to work.

I like actors - I used to be one.

As a director, it is important to understand the actor's process.

I'm an actor. It's my job.

I'd like to act in a film without special effects.

Heath Ledger is someone I know and would like to do a film with.

I was in drama, wanted to be an actor.

The terrible thing about being an actor is that it's not a solo occupation.

And I had known Peter O'Toole before in London. And I'd liked him very much. And the thought of being in a picture with him was very challenging to me. And he was playing the starring role.

I'm a good actor in that sense for directors because I always do what they say.

We had this neighbor who was an actor, and he was going to an audition one day, driving by our house, and he asked if I wanted to tag along. He was reading for the part of the father, and they were reading for the part of the son the same day, and he told me to sneak in there and make it look like I knew what I was doing.

I'm an actor who appreciates direction.

There are many, many, actors with whom I'd like to share a stage or a set.

I was with Robert Preston in 'Sly Fox.'

It was so much fun to work with the cast on 'School of Rock'. I was a little nervous because it was my first acting gig, but it was such a great experience.

More than anything else, I love to act and leave the rest to my director.

I don't think I can play Mr. Bachchan.

I auditioned for Roosevelt in 'The Winds of War,' but Ralph Bellamy got the role.