John Hurt Quotes
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Everything that came to me, in terms of the ritzier side of performing, was a plus.
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My mother's father drank and her mother was an unhappy, neurotic woman, and I think she has lived all her life afraid of anyone who drinks for fear something like that might happen to her.
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I mark a script like an exam, and I try not to do anything under 50 per cent. Similarly with the part. And also film is a peculiar thing, parts don't necessarily read in script form anything like as well as they can do when it comes to materialising.
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Picasso was hugely innovative, and, wow, did he have facility, amazing ability, but I don't think he painted a masterpiece.
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There's an awful lot of hanging around when you're doing science fiction. Going down and waiting for them to set up, being told to go back to your dressing room while they change the track and the lighting and so on.
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The most difficult thing about painting is the self-discipline. When I finish a job, I give myself a few days, but then I have to discipline myself quite fiercely if I want to do some painting that's worthwhile. Otherwise, you're just doodling. It's much easier when you're just told what you have to do.
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I first got involved with Mel Brooks through 'The Elephant Man.' Everybody knows now, but they didn't know at the time that he was the producer.
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One thing that is likely to make you lose touch is if you keep in touch with the past too much.
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I never had any ambition to be a star, or whatever it is called, and I'm still embarrassed at the word.
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Really, I'm only alive out of curiosity. I'm very curious about where we're all marching.
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I seem to watch less and less television. The best thing in 'Downton Abbey' is Penelope Wilton. She is always worth the watch.
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I like the physical activity of gardening. It's kind of thrilling. I do a lot of weeding.
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I see myself as an interpretative actor rather than a creative one.
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Pretending to be other people is my game and that to me is the essence of the whole business of acting.
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For everything that you find dreadful, there's usually something that is rather marvelous as well.
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The difference between anger and deep remorse - remorse is much fatter. It's a deeper feeling altogether. Anger is too easy an escape for my money.
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I'm very much of the opinion that to work is better than not to work.
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The first thing you have to get used to in any kind of acting is the ability to make a fool of yourself. If you haven't learnt how to make a fool of yourself, you shouldn't be on the boards. That's absolutely what it's all about.
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Society is constantly recalibrating, redefining what it considers to be moral and immoral.
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I didn't want to teach. I wanted to act. It was quite a long and difficult road to get there but very thrilling when I did.
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If I'm in theatre, cinema doesn't even cross my mind. Similarly when I'm making a film, theatre doesn't cross my mind.
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My criteria when looking for a role is that I will do anything that stands the chance of succeeding on the level it is intended to. After that, if it's a part I can do something personal with.
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I'm not interested in awards. I never have been. I don't think they are important. Don't get me wrong, if somebody gives me a prize, I thank them as gratefully as I know how, because it's very nice to be given a prize. But I don't think that awards ought to be sought.
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Also the wonderful thing about film, you can see light at the end of the tunnel. You did realise that it is going to come to an end at some stage.