I think every American actor wants to be a movie star. But I never wanted to do stupid movies, I wanted to do films. I vowed I would never do a commercial, nor would I do a soap opera - both of which I did as soon as I left the Acting Company and was starving.

Kevin Kline

Categorized in : Thinking Stupid Stars

I think every American actor wants to be a movie star. But I never wanted to do stupid movies, I wanted to do films.

Kevin Kline

stars stupid thinking

The worth of a life is not determined by a single failure or a solitary success.

Kevin Kline

solitary determined life-is

I've got the Jewish guilt and the Irish shame and it's a hell of a job distinguishing which is which.

Kevin Kline

hell guilt jobs

Hindsight. It's like foresight without a future.

Kevin Kline

foresight hindsight inspirational

Most of the comedies I've done have been rather farcical and extravagant.

Kevin Kline

extravagant comedy done

I'm a real pushover for animals.

Kevin Kline

pushovers real animal

I see God as a song-and-dance man. If I had my way, he'd be able to carry a tune, too. Preferably, one of mine.

Kevin Kline

writing song men

But, I do think, on a very simplistic level, that we can project onto dogs because they are so innocent. They don't come with a lot of baggage.

Kevin Kline

levels dog thinking

Don't kiss a man who hasn't shaved.

Kevin Kline

kissing men

Dogs do have feelings. I gather.

Kevin Kline

dog feelings

We're all animals, but we're a different sort of animal. Maybe they're better than us. They're more loyal. They're more pure. They're more simple. They're not neurotic. Well, there are some neurotic dogs.

Kevin Kline

simple dog animal

I totally related to Cole Porter's magnetic pull to any piano that was in the room, which he was famous for doing, as was Gershwin. You couldn't drag them away from a piano.

Kevin Kline

drag piano rooms

Just because you're not sweating doesn't mean you're not putting in the work.

Kevin Kline

sweating mean

I see a steady downward slope toward oblivion over the next three years. I'm pessimistic. Everything that's happened to me so far has been kind of flukey. I went into Twentieth Century because I wanted to work for Hal Prince. The part was too small according to my agent. I had been doing only leading parts, and he thought I should continue that. But the part was enlarged in rehearsal: songs were added, and it became more physicalized and showy. Then I won awards and got attention.

Kevin Kline

pessimistic song attention

I like variety, which is frustrating. But I've always been picky. I was afraid Pirates would be too much like Twentieth Century, broad comedy. But my agent talked me into it. I was spoiled by the range of a repertory theater.

Kevin Kline

spoiled pirate comedy

I have been in countries where I don't know a word of the language. I tried to practice my French as much as possible. I would talk with the crew. I always order in French, but then waiters respond in English. I hate that.

Kevin Kline

hate order country

I never went to class. That the university graduated me at all is an indictment of our educational system.

Kevin Kline

indictment educational class

Nobody sees the same movie. I'm sure there are people who saw Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and thought "Finally a gay movie about men who really care about each other. Thank God!" That's not what I saw necessarily but I don't think any two people see the same movie.

Kevin Kline

gay men kids

Lots of people fantasize about what it would be like if they were president... Most think they'd be decent and wouldn't be corrupted at all, that they'd remain true to themselves.

Kevin Kline

president people thinking

It never ceases to surprise me, the people I get to work with. I'm in a French film with Sandrine Bonnaire? I adore Sandrine Bonnaire. I'm doing a picture for Robert Redford? The Sundance Kid? I have to pinch myself sometimes.

Kevin Kline

sometimes kids people