William Powell Quotes

I guess I'm just good at playing repressed individuals. I'm lucky because those are often the roles that catch people's eyes.

The biggest compliment I can ever get as an actor is to have someone say, 'We didn't recognize you.'

I can usually play polarizing characters.

I would absolutely love to do something with Viola Davis or Meryl Streep. I just think both of those women fall so deep into their characters that you are no longer looking at the actresses, you are looking at the characters they embraced.

Bob Duvall is a great actor because each time out, he creates a whole, complete character. You have the feeling that you're not seeing an actor at all, but a fully realized human being. Think of how he was in The Godfather. If you didn't know Bobby, you'd think that he really was Tom, the consigliere. Then you see him in Santini, and he's completely different. He's not only a personality, he's a consummate actor.

I have the greatest respect for Mr. Rishi Kapoor - he's simply amazing and also Sridevi. I personally think that is what acting IS about! If you have tapped into your talent, you should be trained enough to access it easily!

You can be as beautiful and charming as you'd like, but if you're not terrific at acting, it will mean nothing on the screen.

I love watching Jeff Bridges act. He's brilliant.

Any good actor is a character actor.

As an actor, the biggest compliment you can get, in my book is for someone to believe that you're the character.

I love performing and pretending - it's very easy for me.

I find it quite easy to get in and out of character. I don't know why - I guess it's my job.

There's no trick of teaching acting. Either someone wants to do it and is gifted, or not.

I love watching Samuel L. Jackson do anything, but for me, Gary Oldman is the grandmaster of the game.

I used to watch people like Richard Burton and Mel Gibson and think, 'I could never do that.'

I'm supposed to be a pretty good theater actor.

I keep saying that, if Samuel L. Jackson and Bette Davis could have a baby, it would be Taraji P. Henson. To me, she's one of the greatest character actors of our generation, let alone leading ladies. She's just phenomenal in everything she does.

With some actors, you can tell when they're acting all by themselves, no matter who else is in the screen.

I think that's something that people feel that I do really well; I don't mind it, because ultimately I think the characters I play move people, and who wouldn't want to move people?

Here's what I have at my advantage: I've never been a personality. I've always been a character actor.

If Brando can do Capote and I can do Brando - well then, I can do Capote.

I think the biggest compliment an actor can have is if people forget who they're watching and get lost in the character.

I guess nobody can teach you the knack, or whatever it is, that helps you come to life on stage.

Man, Amy Ryan. I have geeked out so hard for her - to her face! There aren't a lot of people that can cross those lines of drama and comedy so seamlessly as Amy Ryan.

I saw Gosling just kill it in 'Blue Valentine.' I thought he was just amazing at that, and I wouldn't mind maybe doing something like that.