Sidney Lumet Quotes

There are no small parts. Only small actors.

I never will believe there is such a thing as a great actor.

I've always been an actor. That's my job — I can be anything you want me to be.

A ham is simply any actor who has not been successful in repressing his natural instincts.

I wanted to be an actor. Maybe a comic actor, but an actor. That's what got me into acting was putting on an act, because in life, I wasn't funny and I felt on stage or in the movies, I could do whatever I wanted to. I was free.

I've never thought of myself as an actor, so somebody recognizing me for that would be a real shock.

I always felt that I was more of an actress than a - I can't tell a joke to save my soul, but that I was a comedic actress.

Acting takes a degree of mutual trust and respect.

My Mother's an actress, and she's always told me, "Boy, you're an actor." I would look forward to seeing if I'm any good. I want to be good at it, that's the only thing.

I am really not of the school of naturalism. I like style, and you can use more style in theater than in film roles. I love to sink my teeth into a part.

I think Carrie Preston is one of the most talented actresses I've ever met in my entire life. I've seen her do a lot of other things, and she's fantastic.

Actors, I have to say, most of the time, they elevate things; they don't screw things up most of the time.

Between my two girls, Alia showed a natural flair for acting.

Actors are the only honest hypocrites.

If there is a streak of ham anywhere in an actor, Shakespeare will bring it out.

I play a guy who is 40. And I am a very good actor, because I'm 41.

They say an actor is only as good as his parts. Well, my parts have done me pretty well, darling.

I have some friends who are actors. I've watched them work. And I would say that of all the arts, acting is the most grueling, thankless. Never apologize for your work.

I played a role. That is what actors do. But I played it too well. I went too far. And by the time I wanted to stop, to take a bow and leave the stage, it was too late.

In the story, I think as an actor you're just trying to fit into the world.

I don't do all of this as an indulgence. I do it because I'm not a good enough actor to not do it.

Mine is an actor's voice, not a singer's voice, but the part was written for an actor (Richard Burton), not a singer.

Marlon once said to me about being an actor: Can you imagine going to work every day and pretending to be someone else?

A theater is such a revealing form of art, such a transparent and good actors, they're such powerful individuals. I always kind of dreamt that one day I will open my mouth on stage.

I think theater has given me the opportunity to show what a character actor I can be.