An actor is an impersonator; he plays many different roles. If you played the same role all the time, God that'd be a boring career.
As an actor, you use the things from yourself that you can apply to the character.
I realized that here's a moment for me to learn so until I learn and understand more about how types of films are done - action, sci-fi - even though I have a desire to do it, I won't go into it until I'm very clear that I can do it and that moment hasn't come yet. Maybe one day I will ready, but for now, I just enjoyed playing the character.
What's fun about doing a series is you get to take some time to create the character.
Loving movies myself, I know when I see a film with someone with a strong persona, it's hard to overlay another character on top of that.
I just had a throwaway part, really, if you think about it. I'm not a natural actor, you know? I'm a comedian, through and through. And I really love my lines. Those are the lines I want to do.
The basic skill of an actor is, in fact, empathy, and that's maybe not a skill, it's a disposition. I am an assistant storyteller. I enjoy feeling useful to a team effort. It's my way of finding a use for myself, a utility in this world.
In 2013, I started playing Fara Sherazi on 'Homeland.' I love playing her, not just because she's a strong woman, but because for the first time, a Muslim woman is being portrayed on television as a regular person, rather than a cliche or collection of stereotypes.
I reveal all of myself. I bring all of myself to my roles. You only see me. You don't see anything else but me. That is who's there. They're manifestations of my own self.
To make Michael Myers frightening, I had him walk like a man, not a monster.
As an actor, I feel one should use his look to trick people.
I lost 30 pounds to play my character in 'The Mexican', but people don't take to skinny mafia men, and I don't feel right when I'm thin.
I've never acted, but I'm an entertainer. So I kind of used what I know from being onstage. I've done a thousand and two interviews, and I've been on camera a million times, so I'm not uncomfortable on camera, but it was interesting for me to be someone else.
I think playing a negative character is more difficult and challenging, since you have a lot to work on, and you have to put a lot of efforts.
I love people like Renée Zellweger who aren't afraid to look unattractive and really put themselves into a character role and to really be an actress instead of just thinking "Am I on-screen pouting and looking beautiful?" because that's not really what it's about.
Part of my aspiration as a film actor is to bring subtlety to everything I do - honesty but subtlety.
There isn't just one kind of person that can play a superhero.
Casting is storytelling.
It's cool to play a vampire.
I remember playing John Wayne Gacy, serial killer, very sick, neurotic, screwed-up guy. You know what? There's a part of me there, too, and you explore that.
I realized that once I graduated from college, there might be a period of time where people might typecast me or be more limiting, and I might not be able to play a crazy character. For me, it was important to do that at least in school.
You can't judge a character, and you're never going to always play characters that are morally sound or know right from wrong.
Playing Elizabeth Taylor was probably the hardest job I've ever done.
I remember watching Cate Blanchett in 'Elizabeth' and feeling like for the first time - even though that time period wasn't happening now - that I believed that role.
As an actor, you can't just imitate someone. You have to get under her skin.
