Kieran Culkin Quotes

My father is an actor, so he brought me into his agency when I was young. It wasn't something I wanted to do until high school, when I started taking theater and really liked it. Then an agent found me and wanted me to come out to Los Angeles and give it a shot. I gave myself six months, but it only took me like a week to get a job.

If you're trying to be an actor, sometimes you get lucky, and you end up on 'The Office', but if you don't, and you know that you have something to say, it's really, really fortunate to be able to get to write and star in your own comedy.

That's my suggestion for kids who want to act, by the way: Make sure it's really your choice, get out of it when it stops being fun, and get an education.

I've been doing this journey in acting and singing since I was six years old, and I definitely think this will take me to the next level - in movies.

Time moves on but Barbara Hershey's doing good and John Heard, they're all people working. I know there were a couple of kids in that movie who I used who have been in other movies since Beaches.

Also, if you're in a TV show that does turn out to be very successful, you then can do whatever you want to do in theater for a very long time.

'American Idol' gives people really wonderful opportunities, and they shouldn't take flak for what people do with that opportunity after they leave the show. A lot of casting rooms I was in, that was the only thing on my resume, and people would just be like, 'Oh, here's Katie Stevens. Another 'American Idol' girl who thinks she could be an actor.'

Over the years, I have worked professionally as a musician, photographer, and writer. I've been able to earn my living in other ways, but I always knew I'd come back to acting.

Telling parents in New Jersey you want to act isn't exactly like telling them you want to be a doctor or a dentist. There are no guarantees. It's hard, but all the arts are. Can you imagine the pain of writer's block?

I told my parents I wanted an agent, and they decided to let me have a go at it. Then I started working right away. I was 12.

When I was in 'Billy,' I always knew that I wanted to do something in performing. I always knew that I wanted to have a future in the performing arts. I had no idea that it was going to be acting in movies.

Gossip Girl' was a great opportunity, but it would be misleading to think that anyone on that show doesn't have anything more to offer.

I was in California, and I was going to UCLA, and I knew I certainly didn't have movie star looks. I remember seeing pictures and photos of Ethel Merman and Mary Martin, who were kind of average looking. I said, 'Well, that's for me, then, to go back to New York and try to be in musical comedy on Broadway.'

I know how difficult it is for actors to get work, because I did casting for all those years.

I'm always surprised that I get called to work. I always feel the way I felt when I was 24 or 25 trying to get a job. I'm amazed I have my SAG card and my Equity card.

I want to do theater, TV, movies.

When you start as an actor, you can only hope you'll be able to act at all - let alone on a show that lasts seven seasons.

Ever since I can remember, I've always wanted to be a performer - whether it was acting or singing or whatever.

As an actor, your life is constant ups and downs. My friends and I joke that when a job ends and nothing is lined up, you have nothing to do for the rest of your life. You just ride that wave.

My dream job would be starring in a lead role on a Broadway musical.

I am the only one in my family to get into acting.

I was an actor in New York, dude.

When I first came to L.A., I was plotting out my career choices as if I actually had a choice. Unless you're Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, impossibly good-looking, or look like a freak, you have to be malleable and open to everything that comes your way because that's what makes it possible to pay your mortgage and eat.

After graduating from University, I began directing in theatre too, and I've been directing, writing and acting ever since, which has allowed me to continue this traveler lifestyle.

I just hope to keep doing film and TV and eventually Broadway. It's definitely what I want to do for the rest of my life.