Im a character actor, and I made a choice when I was young, after Mystic Pizza, not to go for the mainstream stuff, and to do a more eclectic kind of route.

Unless you look like Brad Pitt, it's really hard to have full control of your character.

It's like why people read scary books or go see scary movies. Because it creates a distance. They're scared, but they're not going to get hurt.

This haunting idea of becoming a celebrity doesn't settle well with me at all.

When I was younger I used to pick things just to face the fear.

It's pretty simple, pretty obvious: that people's first impressions of people are really a big mistake.

If you try to go beyond your interests just for the sake of pretensions or wealth, your art becomes less legitimate.

To me the definition of true masculinity - and femininity, too - is being able to lay in your own skin comfortably.

The key is always to speak in your own voice. Speak the truth. That's Acting 101.

I found my niche as a character actor, and I've never felt like a movie star or teen idol and never wanted to.

Acting is not a mystery. There's nothing that I know that other actors don't know. We all act, we're all actors, we all know the same thing. The only thing that separates us is experience.

Old timidity has disappeared, and is replaced by silent, quaint fun, with which his face twinkles all over, as he listens.

It's part of my job. You can't play Veronica Guerin sounding like this. It just wouldn't wash. But what I find fascinating about doing an accent - unless it's a farce - is that it's not slapped on.

Some guys fall in love with one girl, I gotta fall for two.

Research shows that when we're under stress or facing a major obstacle, we tend to focus on our weaknesses and what we're afraid of.

You can lead a horse to water, but if you can get him to roll over and float on his back, then you got something!

The misconception is that standup comics are always on. I don't know any really funny comics that are annoying and constantly trying to be funny all the time.

I am proud to be an American, and proud that such beliefs are at the core of our country and its citizens.

Without reflection, we go blindly on our way.

M. Zola is determined to show that, if he has not got genius, he can at least be dull.

I have a temper, but I wouldn't call me abusive.