'My character wouldn't do that.' That was always my favorite thing people say: 'My character wouldn't do that.' I said, 'Well, it says right here in this script your character does that.' Richard Jenkins More Quotes by Richard Jenkins More Quotes From Richard Jenkins When I go to the movies, I want to see a human being dealing with their lives. That's all I ask. Richard Jenkins human-being movies see want Sometimes, I can read a great script, and I don't like the part, or I don't think I'm right for it. I mean, there are times I've read really great parts and think there's so many other actors who could do this better than me. And I just say no to it. Richard Jenkins great think me sometimes It's like, in movies where you talk to the audience 90 percent of the time, it's - you kind of want to stay away from that stuff. But, you know - but to write exposition brilliantly is hard. Richard Jenkins movies know you time I worked with Mike Nichols. First time I worked with Mike Nichols, I just really loved this man. Richard Jenkins loved man first-time time I understand being alone. I understand not liking it, wishing for something else. Richard Jenkins alone being understand being-alone I was an only child, and I spent a lot of time alone. My dad was an only child, too, so we didn't have a big family, and I was really close with both of my parents. Like any kid, I thought I knew more than they did. Richard Jenkins alone parents family time Losing a parent makes you realize how temporary everything is - you're looking through someone's whole life in a drawer, and they're very simply gone. Richard Jenkins looking you parent life In college, I was teetering on the edge: Do I want to be an actor? Do I not want to be an actor? And then I saw Michael Caine in 'Alfie,' and I thought, 'Wow, that's what I want to do with my life,' even if I knew I'd never reach that level of proficiency. Richard Jenkins my-life never thought life Sometimes you read things that people don't even notice in a performance, that you just are moved by or understand that this actor is really living his or her life on the screen. The first time I realized that was when I watched Brando in 'On the Waterfront.' Richard Jenkins you time life people I always loved movies. I wanted to be in them! I always saw them and said, 'How do you do that?' It seemed like going to the moon. It was not a rational thought, but that's the only thing I wanted to do. Richard Jenkins loved movies you moon When I was about 12, I came home from middle school and told my parents I wanted to be an actor. My father didn't say it to me, but he told my mom, 'No. I'm not going to allow that. He'll starve to death.' I grew up in a small town in Illinois where being an actor was not something people did. Richard Jenkins me home father death You find movies when you need them. They may not always be the best films, but they speak to you. Richard Jenkins movies best you speak The truth is you only have yourself to offer. And when you come to that realization, it's terrifying, because you think it's probably not enough. Richard Jenkins yourself you truth-is truth
