Every Marine is, first and foremost, a rifleman. All other conditions are secondary.
Nobody aspires to be a backup. And although I take great pride in the supporting roles I've played in both Philadelphia and Kansas City, part of me still cringes every time I hear myself described that way. Not only is it limiting and one-dimensional, it doesn't come close to describing who I really am.
I'm predominately an actor first.
I don't want to be a backup. I want to be a starter.
I never looked at being second banana to anybody, I never felt that way, ever. If other people did, that's the way they looked at it, but I never did.
I feel that I am a scholar who only with the left hand writes novels.
I'm an actor before I'm anything else.
I don't think that I've ever been a backup.
Artemis Fowl will never be secondary." "I thought you were Artemis Fowl the Second?" said Holly.
A lot of my colleagues are content to be character actors who are always in the background. I'm not that guy. I'm the guy who wants the limelight. Gimme the ball and I'll run it through a brick wall for you. I'll be your biggest soldier.
I learned this lesson very quickly when I came into the NBA: Almost all the media and accolades go to the No. 1 guy. But if you're building a team, the most important player is the No. 2 guy. Because if the No. 2 guy wants to be the No. 1 guy, you have a major problem.
