Pursuing Ambition Quotes

They thought I was crazy in Mexico when I said, 'I'm going to Hollywood.' Nobody thought I could make it.

Growing up, I had the weird fantasy list: I wanted to be Alice Cooper, Steven Spielberg, and Stan Lee. You have to have almost psychotic drive, because you're going to have years of failure.

I was not going to be a stupid girl singer. I was going to be way more than that.

I don't believe in muckin' about and hiding ambition.

I knew I had to take my ambition more seriously, so I enrolled at the Art Institute of Chicago. Then, in the fall, I went on a tour of my own. I didn't go to New York because that was too well known for its art scene.

As a Southerner and as a Mormon you approach life in this aspirational way: 'I will rise above my station.'

I think, often, people who run away are people who got into things most enthusiastically, and then they want more. They just demand more of life than what is happening in the moment. Sometimes this is a great mistake, as it's always a good deal different than you expect it.

I am the kind of person who likes taking one step at a time and raising the bar with each film.

The best roles have risks... and those are the parts I'm interested in.

I have faced a lot of people who said that I would always be in my father's shadow. I just take that, and I use that as a boost because, as much as I love my father, I am trying to make a name for myself.

That's important for me, to never just relax and be too comfortable with what you have.

I didn't really come from money. So I wanted my thesis show to grab as much attention as possible.

A lot of people are focused on taking over the world or doing the biggest thing and getting the most users. I think part of making a difference and doing something cool is focusing intensely.