Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Quotes

One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation.

If you want something bad enough, and you're having enough fun doing it, you can accomplish it. You just got to get creative and find a way.

I got into acting classes. I didn't want to just go by luck.

My mom taught me to live by the three p's: to always be passionate, persistent, and prepared.

To the new 'Apprentice' candidates I would say to follow your gut instincts, be yourself and get ready to work hard for the next few months. Oh, and try to have some fun!

Confidence comes from discipline and training.

The most important thing about skating is that it teaches you to do the things you should do before you do the things you want to do.

Success is not an accident. When you put yourself in the right place at the right time, then you're likely to be more successful because of how you prepare yourself on a daily basis.

I think at some point every actor has practiced their acceptance speech while they're having a shower. It's fun.

It's my motor, it's the thing that keeps me going and so when I have these auditions for these big movies, I can depend on myself because I've been working consistently.

I was always really strict on myself about doing everything possible to prepare for competition.

I'm not some crazy party animal. That's OK. If you say you want to be the best, you have to do what the best do - train, research, eat right, take care of yourself, and be. Don't pretend.

I think it takes a lot of desire because I think a lot of people who've never written books don't know quite how hard it is to stick with, to put in the amount of time and just make the commitment to just sit there every day and do it while everybody else is out having fun.

I completely took off my eyebrows one time for a screen test. I hadn't even gotten the role yet. So you have to have a commitment.

Try to always stay focused on the objectives that are possible and the positive - and on having fun outside of the stuff that's going on in Washington.

I went to L.A. and got an acting coach for one day. Then I went in to audition and I smashed it. You have to take risks, and one thing I know about people: your presence is everything.

Even if I have already peaked, I have to believe I can improve. I wake up every morning, and go to practice, with the illusion that I'm going to get better that day.

For an actor, if you're not doing a job, you can't just practice acting. Your instrument is your whole person.

I just get up every day and do what seems like the most interesting, fun thing to do.

My life is training.

I tell aspiring young skaters to dream big, work hard, have fun, and follow their passion. It's simple to say never give up, but learn from your mistakes to keep growing.

One thing I was taught growing up is it's only pressure when you're not prepared. And you're just not working hard. Those are two things I do all the time.

You want be young and have fun, that's great. But while you're having fun, someone you don't see is studying and preparing. You might end up working for that person. No one wants to hear that! But I try to tell young people: You want to be the one signing the front of the check, not the back.

I think you've gotta believe in yourself, I think you gotta put in a lot of work off the court to make sure you're ready.

For me, all I can do is come in, get better each and every day.