Sarah Polley Quotes

The darker, more complex and emotional the part is, the easier it is for me. But I don't take any of that stuff home with me at the end of the day.

Portraying emotionally ill characters gives me the chance to really act.

Acting is an art form and you want to take roles that are challenged and it's more of a challenge I think to play dark characters. Not that I want to always play those, but it is a challenge and challenges are rewarding and fun.

There's nothing worse - I don't like listening to actors talk about the process, especially when - I mean, for me I've played a lot of guys, dudes, boys in a sense and this was a challenge for me just to play that official character.

The hardest role that I've ever tried to play was Clara Johnson in 'Light in the Piazza' at Lincoln Center. It was the least fun I've ever had, but the most beautiful experience I've ever had. I could not understand her. I could not put my feet in her shoes. I came home every night, and I was depressed.

And I thought, you know, I have to say that maybe the whacked out mother is my new favorite role, but I don't want to just do it and become Nurse Ratchett.

I think it's fair to say I'm attracted to playing characters who are rather intense.

The one thing I learned the most about acting is it takes a tremendous amount of courage to go there and stand still. It takes courage and guts to step out of your mind frame and depict something.

It's easier to play aggression and malevolence onscreen, often, than to hit softer notes.

I was a little bit wary of playing Nicholas. In the script, which I think is true of the novel and the film, he's the only character not singing and dancing in a musical style. Playing someone who is the personification of good is a little difficult.

In theater, the wellspring of the character comes from the doing of it, like a trial by fire, but in front of an audience.

I love the simplicity of Kevin Spacey's work. He really does a subtle interpretation of every character, and that's kind of my style of acting when it comes to dramatic roles.

For whatever reason I tend to get roles that are more damaged.

When a character has so many secrets and so much inner life, it's a joy to play those characters because you can use your craft.

Tortured characters are, I think, an actor's dream.

You just want to get it right so badly, so it's stressful when it comes to those vulnerable, dramatic scenes.

In fact, my role in 'Jinda' was tough because I couldn't relate to it in any way.

As actors, that has been challenging for us to pick up the nuances of the living legends we are playing.

As an actor, those kinds of really intense, emotionally packed, dark things, those always very appeal to me greatly.

At a certain point in my career, I was probably having a difficult time 'holding space.' So you get a character that has to be commanding in order for him to resonate and make sense.

'Freaky Ali' may look like an easy role to others, but it is not easy.

It's much easier, for example, to play a heroin addict and you're withdrawing - you tear the ceiling off - that's much easier than it is to come in and say, 'Hello.' Or, 'I love you'. When you judge it in that way, the heavy isn't as difficult.

I don't approach a role by saying I'll be unsavory or unlikable. I think all the roles I've done have been very passionate people who go to absolute extremes to make their points.

It doesn't matter if it's a drama or a comedy, the need to get the emotion and the character arc across is way harder in something like this so was more of a preparation.

In 'Raabta' I've two personalities to project, and yes, there are distinct shades of grey.