Tony Kushner Quotes

Control the public's perception of you and nobody will care if you have any talent.

I'm sure I'm perceived in a more glam way. This is my breakout if you will.

I've never seen anybody win the game in the media. But at the same time, I understand what it could do for you, if you wanted to be someone who talks a lot.

If people are talking about me, I want it to be because of the work I'm doing and not the person I'm seeing.

I think the measure of your success to a certain extent will be the amount of things written about you that aren't true.

One of the strangest results of having your name on a book jacket is the proliferation of people who know one narrow aspect of your life and are suddenly surprised to learn there's more.

I just can't get used to the idea of being somebody unreal in people's minds. I can't live my life like that. And it's just anathema to being a writer. It's not healthy.

People used to be funny about approaching me, but now they seem to think I'm as sane as anyone who's done what I've done in movies can be.

I don't want to end up being a circus act, doing my most famous tricks when I'm 70.

I just like to be seen for the hard-working actress that I am and not for a bunch of extraneous press.

Fame is something that is tough when it comes. It's a weird thing to take on in real life. I was a little bit afraid and, as a result, kind of turned my back on it. You should embrace it because it's going to be a part of who you are, and it's going to be a part of what this business is about.

In general, when you have success on the field, you're more popular, and you have that fame that comes with it. You realize you're in the public eye more, and you've got to be a little bit more careful about some of the things you're doing out in public and make sure you're smart about the things you say.

I was stuck with the dark glasses. They took all these pictures that went around the world. I guess once you become successful, you don't want to change anything too drastically.

Just for the pleasure of being seen on screen with Aamirji, I can't play a loser. It will disappoint my supporters.

I try not to let myself get too wrapped up in the image of whatever my books have become in the outside world.

If I were a man who had accomplished what I have, I don't think anyone would ever bring up my past relationships, no matter how famous the people were.

With or without the idol tag, I believe I will be recognized for what I have done.

Before I became famous I used to think there's no smoke without fire. But believe me, there can be a fire without smoke.

People believe in you more after you've won an Oscar, but it's up to you what choices you make.

You don't get to choose what you get famous for and you don't get to control which of your life's many struggles gets to stand for you.

When you have success on the field, you're more popular and you have that fame that comes with it. You realize you're in the public eye more and you've got to be a little bit more careful about some of the things you're doing out in public and make sure you're smart about the things you say. You're still going to make mistakes from time to time, but you represent an even greater population and people are that much more looking for you to be in the wrong place at the wrong time or fall down or say something really stupid that's going to get you in trouble.

It doesn't matter what is true; it only matters what people believe is true... You are what the media define you to be. [Greenpeace] became a myth and a myth-generating machine.

Definitely you don't become famous by doing something bad; that's a professional death sentence.

Your take on things is what is either going to make you somebody people talk about or no.

Being known for Bond, certainly when you're in foreign countries, makes people curious. You get to see presidents because their wives were curious; their children were curious about Bond or The Saint or whatever. Then once you have your foot through the door, you can then let them see that you're serious about what you're talking about, and not just a twit.