I think there are certain actors that have that kind of energy about them, that taking over a room energy.

There's something about a catharsis that is very important.

Ismail Merchant was just the most seductive, passionate, outrageous, driven, genius of a man.

It puts you in a kind of a strange situation where everybody is looking at every little thing you do.

I've been sacrificing my life for my work for 30 years, and now I want it the other way around. I want to find work that fits into my life and that would be based here.

I don't like public venues. I never know what to wear.

Bunny boiler is now part of our language, and I'm proud of that.

We were fortunate enough to have several good books detailing the camps and the women. Some were by the survivors. I also got to talk to some of the women who had been in the camp, survivors.

There are a lot of big spec houses now all across Connecticut, a lot of ostentatious showing of wealth.

Good roles are hard to find no matter what age.

I think the diva is kind of a cliche. My definition of a diva is somebody whose talent does not match what they're trying to play, so all this temperament comes out.

The best thing I have is the knife from Fatal Attraction. I hung it in my kitchen. It's my way of saying, Don't mess with me.

We have to be vulnerable as actors, but we have to protect ourselves.

I don't think the tabloids find me very interesting.

I knew the term Stepford Wife, and I knew what that meant. I never read the book, and I think before I started filming I watched the movie. I thought it was very dated.

I never got into this business thinking I'd be like a movie star.

I get bored talking about myself, but I can talk about the work.

Acting, to me, is about the incredible adventure of examining the landscape of human heart and soul. That's basically what we do.

I had a great time on The Shield. From working on it I have a totally different view of law enforcement.

With the hugely talented women I've worked with or observed, it's not a question about temperament or ego; it's a question about getting it right. If they've got a reputation for being difficult it's usually because they just don't suffer fools.

I am extremely shy. I am not happy in crowds of people.

Celebrity is death - celebrity - that's the worst thing that can happen to an actor.

It's not good to be in a situation where people don't want to direct you or don't want to question something.

You have to love the characters you play, even if no one else does.

I'm an actor, that's my contribution.

When I hear that somebody's difficult, I think, Oh, I can't wait to work with them.

It always amazes me to think that every house on every street is full of so many stories; so many triumphs and tragedies, and all we see are yards and driveways.

It's gotten out of control. It's taking bigger and bigger names to make smaller and smaller films. I worry that important films without a big name attached won't get made at all.

I think there are certain actors that have that kind of energy about them, that taking over a room energy.

It is very difficult for girls. They're told to look one way, but to act another way.

As an actor, I go where the good writing is. That's the bottom line.

I had a dresser who literally squeezed me in like Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With The Wind.

When they tested Fatal Attraction, the audiences were so upset by her behavior, they literally demanded her blood.

Diva has a negative connotation.

Be aware of your inner voice and follow it, even though most of the time it will tell you the most uncomfortable path to choose.

What's so fascinating about people is what they don't show. People are masters at it; usually actors show too much.

Actors love mental disorders, dialects, and corsets. Give them one of the three and they're happy.

What's fascinating is that when you write a script, it's almost a stream of consciousness. You have an idea that it means something, but you're not always sure what. Then when you get on the set, the actors teach you.

Young actors often don't think of the consequences of doing nudity or sex scenes. They want the role so badly that they agree to be exploited, and then end up embarrassing family, friends, and even strangers.

I've seen many actors go awry by making the wrong choices early on.

Actors are able to trick themselves into treating anything as if it's fantastic. It's a kind of madness really.

David Cronenberg knows what we actors do as artists.

I like doing them and they're ridiculous and the actors can improvise a lot, and they don't have to be really realistic characters that hit a very specific tone as in a feature film. They're really fun, I want to make more of them definitely.

I'm not in the business of becoming famous. And that's the advice I give to younger aspiring actors. Work onstage and do the little roles. In the end it's not important to be seen. It's important to do. There's a lot of disappointment in this business, but my family keeps me grounded.

Actors get pigeonholed very quickly, particularly movie actors. In the theater, one is more used to casting people against type and trusting that their talent and skill will get them through.

Comedians are not usually actors, but imitations of actors.

I was very pleased you know, and I was afraid that I might stick out, but I didn't. My happiest thing about that picture is that I proved that American actors can speak as well and also fit in with an ensemble like that.

I've worked with a lot of really fine actors, both on stage and on screen. The level of their game lifts me up and brings the level of my game up to theirs. Always. It's like a constant upgrade.

I feel like I'm the most well-adjusted character on the show, even though I'm sure the other actors would tell you the same thing about their characters.