“I grew up in Queens in N.Y., and in parts of my neighbourhood, there were a lot of Italian Americans and a lot of people who were either affiliated with nefarious people or had seen so many movies that they were embodying that.”
“I grew up without a lot of money and my parents grew up with far less money. And that’s kept me in line. Really in line.”
“I love the accessibility that my great nation affords us, but it is virtually inescapable for most people in America, and many places abroad, to rely on inexpensive yet unhealthy meals as a main source of sustenance.”
“I’ve been painting and drawing fish since I was very young. My mom found old pictures I did when I was around 6 or 7 of all these sharks and scuba diver looking back, a big ship, throwing a harpoon. There was already a message within what I saw.”
“I’ve been very lucky to work with great filmmakers. But I think my days of just freely acting regularly, that being my sole creative fulfillment, are gone.”
“In my work as an actor, I have been given even greater insights and have been guided towards empathy and a consciousness of those who are less fortunate.”
“It’s interesting, winning an Academy Award as a young man… life-changing, but I’m just me within that. It’s been very helpful for my career, but I’m trying to stay on the path I was on before.”
“My dad told me, ‘It takes fifteen years to be an overnight success’, and it took me seventeen and a half years.”
“My work as an actor is limited by the voice of the director and the writing.”
“The odd thing is how, I think, the intensity and devotion to my craft and the intensity of certain performances or types of roles I’ve played overshadow the comedic stints that I’ve had. ‘Darjeeling Limited’ is a comedy; The ‘Brothers Bloom’ is a comedy.”