I feel as though my career really hit its high point when I was cast as a supporting actress in 'American Wedding'. I thought the script had a lot of depth and intelligence, and it really just jumped off the page.
J. J. Abrams is a director that I've admired for a long time, from the very first scripts he wrote - including 'Regarding Henry,' which I was in.
'King of California' was just, I thought, a really great, fresh, original kind of script. I loved the tone, the mix of tragedy, comedy, and drama, and that it was a good part.
It always starts with a script. I like to have plenty of time to read something, and I always like to read a paper copy. I hate reading it on email. I sit down with a script, and want to see how it hits me. It's an instinctive process.
You'll read a script, and it'll grab me, or it won't.
I'm a great fan of Michael Mann and when he asked to see me I couldn't believe it. I was very happy. I met him and I read this beautiful script. I didn't know anything about Dillinger. I fell in love with the movie and Michael Mann.
When I first read the script a few years ago I thought it was one of the best written scripts I had ever read.
For me, my first hearing of the script matters. It has to excite me as an actor and as an audience.
Sometimes you do feel a script that glows in your hand the moment you start reading it. By page four of Shakespeare in Love, I said, 'I have to be in this movie.'
I think the first thing I consider is whether I like the script. Once that is done, the next thing I look for is my part in the movie. Many a times you come across good offers, but the part they are offering might not be challenging. So, I don't take up that film.
I was cast last minute for Casino Royale. They asked me to fly to Prague. I liked the script very much. I flew to Prague and did a bit of an audition. I was really focused and stressed out. And Daniel Craig was there. He was very, very blonde, like a Steve McQueen. He's moving a lot in real life. He's quite nervous. He was very lovely, very patient, and really connecting with me when we did the screen test.
I read a lot of scripts that I just don't find very funny.
Normally, when I read a script, I read 30 pages, and then go have a cup of tea and come back. And then, I read 20 pages and go make a phone call, and then go back to it.
I love this script [The Hollars] because I'm lucky enough to come from a really tightknit family.
You just knew you were in great hands with somebody so talented, so bright and with such depth. We both [with Ellen Page] loved the script and the book [Into the Forest], which I read after I read the script, and highlighted it and dog-eared it to craziness.
If it's an excellent script, I enjoy it tremendously, the acting part of it.
I got the 'Max Rose' script, and I fell in love with it. It just hit me. It was something that needed to be made.
With 'Badhaai Ho,' I loved the script but was anxious that someone else might get the role.
I'm just a sucker for a good script.
When you get scripts and you really enjoy reading them, you know it's a good project.
I'm a sucker for a funny script. And then, as soon as I don't wanna be, one comes along and grabs me.
When a script moves me, I find that I immediately understand a character. Of course not completely, but I do understand.
But I loved the script to 7th Heaven and couldn't say no. It made me laugh and cry, and I was hooked. I'd love to know who turned it down, because I'm sure at least one other actor did. But I'm glad he did, whoever it was.
I really wanted to do 'Modern Family,' and I really liked the script, and I liked the people.
Along with loving the script, the reason I did 'Aeon Flux' was because I needed the job, and I couldn't find $5 million to make a movie independently - after making a fairly successful movie for a million dollars.
