When I had cancer, people were surprised at how cheerful and upbeat I was, but I couldn't let myself go to depression - to go there, that defeat would allow everything in. If you look too far into the abyss, you might never come out again. You can stand on the abyss and peep but not give in to sadness.

Sam Taylor-Johnson

Categorized in : You Myself People Depression

Tea is a huge part of my life.

Sam Taylor-Johnson

my-life part tea life

The pictures I make come from every blink of my lashes.

Sam Taylor-Johnson

pictures make come lashes

If you love someone, you love someone. It doesn't matter; age, colour, c'mon!

Sam Taylor-Johnson

you age matter love

I love life. I think it's fantastic. Sometimes it deals hard things, and when it deals great things, you have to seize them.

Sam Taylor-Johnson

great you love life

Never trust a hippie. That's definitely my motto.

Sam Taylor-Johnson

never my-motto motto trust

I was determined to have a spotless house when I grew up.

Sam Taylor-Johnson

up grew determined house

I believe that life is short, and there is too much time wasted bearing grudges, and I like to move on.

Sam Taylor-Johnson

life-is-short time life believe

I'm motivated every second by my work; it doesn't switch off. The pictures I make come from every blink of my lashes.

Sam Taylor-Johnson

pictures make lashes work

My favorite part of the whole filmmaking process is working with a fantastic cinematographer, a fantastic actor or actors, and then just creating emotions and stories. I get so excited by that. That's the part I'm utterly addicted to.

Sam Taylor-Johnson

emotions just filmmaking process

I am just reflecting the times. I can't ignore them.

Sam Taylor-Johnson

them i-am just ignore

To be feminist doesn't mean you can't be submissive.

Sam Taylor-Johnson

you submissive feminist mean

My biggest fears aren't with my work. My biggest fears are walking through hospital doors. Once you can face that, being fearless about your work is easy.

Sam Taylor-Johnson

face you work walking

Having children is exciting. Life puts the past into perspective.

Sam Taylor-Johnson

perspective life children past

I love karaoke. I love maudlin country ballads. In another life, I'd be Loretta Lynn.

Sam Taylor-Johnson

karaoke love life country

Sometimes, I get afraid it has defined me, that sense of grief, loss and illness. But actually, it is about allowing myself to take hold and say: 'This is part of who I am, but not only who I am.'

Sam Taylor-Johnson

i-am myself me sometimes

I can be very self-destructive, but quietly.

Sam Taylor-Johnson

quietly self-destructive very i-can

I felt giving birth was the most creative act of all my creative acts - literally creation!

Sam Taylor-Johnson

creation birth creative giving

I went to Goldsmith College of Art in London in the '80s and there I made sculptures, but the objects had nothing to do with how I was thinking. I was making beautifully sanded wooden boxes!

Sam Taylor-Johnson

nothing college art thinking

I seize all opportunities with two hands. Everything that's happened to me has taught me to live in the moment as much as possible.

Sam Taylor-Johnson

live me moment hands

I feel lucky to be getting older. The fact that I made it to 30 and then 40 was big enough. So I can't get too down on getting older; otherwise, it kind of undoes everything I've fought for.

Sam Taylor-Johnson

down feel getting-older enough