I'm a typical middle child. I'm the mediator. The one that makes everything OK, puts their own needs aside to make sure everybody's happy. It's hard to change your nature, even with years and years of therapy. Jennifer Jason Leigh More Quotes by Jennifer Jason Leigh More Quotes From Jennifer Jason Leigh I don't need a reason to kill myself-I need a reason not to. Jennifer Jason Leigh suicidal reason needs I like to investigate all different kinds of people, I guess, and find out what makes them who they are, and try to be honest in the portrayal, and truthful, and find out how to understand that person, how to communicate that person's experience. Jennifer Jason Leigh different trying people I hope my talent has something to do with it. I just think this business is so crazy. I obviously do the best I can, and the directors I admire see something in me. But this is a strange business, and there are people who are incredibly talented who never make it, who never get these opportunities. So that's why I say I'm lucky. I don't feel that I'm not talented - I think I am talented - but I also think I'm very lucky. Jennifer Jason Leigh crazy opportunity thinking In some ways, you're always redefining your craft and figuring it out, but in some ways, I almost feel I'm going back to what I was doing 20 years ago. Jennifer Jason Leigh People equate success with youth. And if you haven't had a certain amount of success by a certain time in your life, it's never going to happen. There's a fear about that. So people start lying about their age really young. I've never done that because I think it's so insignificant. Jennifer Jason Leigh lying people thinking For me, something dangerous would be playing thebabe in a huge studio film. That would be terrifying because I'dstink... I want to explore human beings on as deep a level as I can. Jennifer Jason Leigh levels would-be want It usually takes about two and a half weeks after you're done filming where you kind of return to yourself again. Jennifer Jason Leigh week kind done I just don't plan things. I live a month at a time. Jennifer Jason Leigh plans months Quentin's [Tarantino] thing is "I don't want anybody to get up until they have to. So, because he really wants things to come organically. And he may have specific things like "No, this ... I want you to be here so that when he punches you, it falls. I want that action to happen here." But you feel like it does, all the blocking does come from an organic response to the material. Jennifer Jason Leigh block doe fall You know, you really do choose your existence in a way. Jennifer Jason Leigh existence knows way Sometimes the work can get in the way and you give a less-good performance, and sometimes it doesn't and you can really get to the heart of something. And all the other stuff is just interesting and adds another layer to your performance. It helps you find the reality. Because you're not just playing yourself, you know? That would be kind of boring. Jennifer Jason Leigh heart giving reality It's very exciting to work with people who inspire you. Jennifer Jason Leigh exciting inspire people When I find a role I want to play, I just go after it. Jennifer Jason Leigh roles want play One of the reasons that I do a lot of different kinds of pictures is because I learn a lot when I'm doing them. Jennifer Jason Leigh different kind reason There's so much confidence and freedom that comes from that way of doing things. Robert Altman and Alan Rudolph make the set the place to be. It's fun. It's a kind of creative freedom that's really inspiring. Altman loved actors so much. He was a great mentor for me, really. Jennifer Jason Leigh mentor creative fun I don't really watch my moves all that often; I mean, really, I don't. Jennifer Jason Leigh watches mean moving I've always done roles that really appealed to me on a gut level and which I found inspiring. Jennifer Jason Leigh levels roles done I'd love to have children, and I think marriage is great, I really do. Jennifer Jason Leigh children thinking I think Robert Altman could see things in me that I didn't know I possessed, which is really exciting. He also instilled a tremendous amount of confidence, because he would say things like, "These are the bare bones, but I want you to go fill it out. You find the character. You bring it to me. You write whatever you want." And if you had an idea, he wouldn't want to hear about it. He's want you to show it to him. Jennifer Jason Leigh writing character thinking I loved acting as a kid because I was kind of shy, so it brought me out of myself. Jennifer Jason Leigh shy acting kids
