To get art nowadays, in cinema or books or anything, that grapples with the possibility of a meaningless universe... it just doesn't happen any more. In even the most indie of the indie films, everything has to come to some kind of neat conclusion. Emily Mortimer More Quotes by Emily Mortimer More Quotes From Emily Mortimer It is brilliant going to the theatre and being forced to sit and listen and think about life. It can be almost a near-religious experience. Emily Mortimer theatre religious thinking My dad had this philosophy that if you tell children they're beautiful and wonderful then they believe it, and they will be. So I never thought I was unattractive. But I was never one of the girls at school who had lots of boyfriends. Emily Mortimer girl beautiful beauty I had friends at school, but I was never part of a gang and I dreamed of that sense of belonging to a group. You know, where people would call me 'Em' and shout across the bar, 'Em, what are you drinking?' after the show. Emily Mortimer technology drinking school If there's any plan or scheme on my part, it's subconscious. Whatever I do tends to be very different from the thing I did last. You're terrified of boring either yourself or anyone else. It's always attractive if it feels like something that you haven't done before. I generally tend to be better, I think, when I'm terrified out of my wits. Emily Mortimer different done thinking You don't have to be brilliant at everything. You just have to have the courage to put yourself in the line of fire. Emily Mortimer brilliant lines fire I want any excuse to come home. My dad is not a spring chicken any more. If anyone says, 'Go buy a postage stamp in London,' I'll go and do it. Emily Mortimer dad home spring I decided to give acting a serious, committed try, and soon after, I read the script for 'Lovely and Amazing.' The story was beautiful and honest, and the characters struggled with the same insecurities many women - including me - face. I didn't think I had a chance in hell of being in the film, but I knew I had to go for it. Emily Mortimer beautiful character thinking I thought a parent's job was to tell their children not to go into acting as a profession! Emily Mortimer profession acting children It's very difficult to find the time or the money for people to organize rehearsals for some movies. It staggers me how little preparation often goes into these scenes which are difficult and complicated. You think, "God, it's crazy. I've never met this person before and here I am having to work at how to do a whole performance on the set." It was great to have a few days of just talking to Michael [Caine] and Daniel [Barber] and thinking about the characters and the relationship between them before we started shooting. Emily Mortimer crazy character thinking It's dangerous talking about yourself too much because you find yourself talking in sound bites. Emily Mortimer finding-yourself sound talking I am a good mother and I feel proud about it. Emily Mortimer good-mother proud mother You never in a million years thought that you would ever end up in a Woody Allen film even though that might be your dream, and there you are. Suddenly you've got one. But you're not playing the quintessential Woody Allen heroine, which is somebody that's full of self-doubt and heartbreakingly naïve. Chloe in Match Point was a nightmare in some ways and totally entitled, and felt like everything was going to be all right. Most of the women in Woody Allen films feel like everything's awful. I didn't understand what to do. But some of the confusion is helpful. Emily Mortimer helpful confusion dream I'm an optimist by nature, myself, I think. Emily Mortimer optimist thinking I'm a dual citizen, as are my husband and children. We have got eight passports between us; we're weighed down by them whenever we go anywhere. Emily Mortimer eight husband children I was determined not to become an American citizen but I did it for completely cynical reasons: to avoid paying inheritance tax in the U.S. Emily Mortimer inheritance cynical citizens There's something helpful about the fast pace of a TV set where everything has to be finished by the end of the week. You have to finish the episode; it doesn't matter how long you have to go on Friday night, but you have to get it done. Emily Mortimer friday night long I want to discover more things about acting. Emily Mortimer acting want I wake up early. At 6:30 A.M., I'm at my most optimistic. Emily Mortimer up-early wake-up optimistic I must have been a really pretentious little girl. Emily Mortimer pretentious girl littles I think Georges Feydeau said comedy is just tragedy speeded up. Emily Mortimer comedy tragedy thinking
