Ardal O'Hanlon Quotes

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.

I'd love to get into one of Tyler Perry's movies - play a little role, have a little character. I don't care. But more than two lines! More than two words!

I did a year of 'Guiding Light', and I was going to be a movie actor or a stage actor, but not a TV actor. That just wasn't going to happen. And obviously, things changed so remarkably.

When I began my journey in films, I never thought I'd be playing the lead in my films and was keen to move ahead with roles that give me scope to act.

Television is a big platform for actors, and so many actors have made it to films from there. And for me, too, it has been a great transition from the small screen to the big screen.

I used my television phase to save myself as an actor for the bigger screen.

Before 'Rangeela' happened to me, all that was offered to me were song-and-dance roles.

If you're a 'character actor,' you get hired to play baddies a lot.

I couldn't believe it! I mean, I'd always dreamed of acting on the screen - my previous background was all theater - but I wasn't sure if the opportunity would ever present itself. Not only was this acting for the screen, this was acting in 'The Hunger Games!' I knew that I had to give this audition my all.

I try to do as many different roles as the system will allow me. That's the benefit of not being in a giant blockbuster where you're the lead and you get typecast in that kind of role. I am able to slip in or out of a lot of different parts.

I think definitely people know me from playing creeps and weirdos, and I'm definitely looking to expand my range.

I used to play a lot of villains. You have to break out of it, and I did.

'Cuckoo's Nest' was my first film, and I had wanted to do film for some time, but somehow I had not clicked. I would go in for interviews or readings, and I never had the sense that I was anywhere near what they were looking for.

'Apocalypse Now' was my craziest experience ever. I was 14 years old, and I'd lied about my age to get the role. I haven't had another film top it.

Definitely, I did not, after 'SNL,' say, 'OK, first I'll go be in Alexander Payne's movie.' I thought I might go back to writing, to be honest.

I would love to do an indie film, as I've grown to have a more serious side.

When I did 'Crash,' to be honest with you, it was just another acting job. I just wanted to do as good as I possibly could.

It's a good thing to be typecast, isn't it?

I've had tremendous opportunities in film and continue to have them, but it's such a different thing to do a television show, and I'm very lucky to be able to do them both.

I was thrust, excitingly, via 'Elizabeth' and 'Shakespeare in Love,' into a position one can only dream of, but it was startling, too. I was offered a multitude of roles riding horses in flouncy shirts, and I just thought, 'Hang on, I've just done that. What next?'

The problem with the film industry is that once one starts out as a villain, subsequent offers are those of similar roles.

I knew I would get offers to play the villain after 'Kick,' and I had already decided to reject all of them.

I knew I wanted to be an actor but didn't know how to go about it. That's why my ambition, initially, was not to play a lead role in a Bollywood film.

I was told 'You should just do commercials and Bollywood' and Bollywood would be said to me like it's a bad thing.

It's difficult to find an actress prepared to play a fading star.