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- “Art is theft, art is armed robbery, art is not pleasing your mother.” — Janet Malcolm
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- “There’s a difference between writing about something and living through it. I did both.” — poet/novelist Margaret Walker
- “I believe what Camus says. When the curtain rings down, your job is done.” — Warren Oates
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- “My voice isn’t an instrument I can just hang up on a hook.” — Audra McDonald
- “You can’t be on top all the time. It isn’t natural.” — Olivia de Havilland
- “If I don’t feel it, I can’t play it.” — James Cotton
- “I don’t have to be an imitation of a white woman that Hollywood sort of hoped I’d become. I’m me, and I’m like nobody else.” — Lena Horne
- “But man has always succeeded in rising again.” — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
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Category Archives: Actors
“The only people who ever called me a rebel were people who wanted me to do what they wanted.” — Nick Nolte
It’s Nick Nolte’s birthday. He has always been one of my all-time favorites, and despite the odds – or maybe because of the odds – and his personal struggles – it’s a thrill that he is still with us, still … Continue reading
“Since the beginning, I’ve said, ‘I’m not going to get involved with my image.’” – Charlotte Rampling
It’s her birthday today. I first saw Charlotte Rampling in Angel Heart, where she has one hauntingly weird scene: a rumpled schlubby Mickey Rourke visits her to question her. Her apartment is filled with strange artifacts, beautifully placed. The decor … Continue reading
“Often I pretended to a cameraman to know less than I did. That way I got more cooperation.” — Ida Lupino
It’s the birthday of actress and director Ida Lupino. To give some perspective on her unlikely and inspiring trajectory: she was born into a theatre family dynasty. By the time she was 14, 15, she was playing adult roles. She … Continue reading
“All these weird stages in my teenage years are documented. Why did no one tell me how terrible some of those outfits were?”– Justin Timberlake
“The thing is that my idols have always been the types of guys who could do anything: Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Sinatra, Dean Martin; and when you look up to people like that, you don’t accept that you need to … Continue reading
Happy Birthday, Dorothy Malone
I was so happy to pay tribute to Dorothy Malone for Film Comment. The actress – whose career spanned over 50 years – died in 2018 at the age of 93. She was an Oscar-winning actress who ended up on … Continue reading
Posted in Actors, Movies, On This Day
Tagged Dorothy Malone, Douglas Sirk, Howard Hawks, The Big Sleep
4 Comments
“I think I’m invisible sometimes.” — Ingrid Thulin
It’s her birthday today. I’m really proud of the video-essay I wrote on her for Criterion: The Eerie Intensity of Ingrid Thulin One of Ingmar Bergman’s repertory company of actors. As heavy-hitting as Liv Ullmann, Bibi Andersson, Harriet Andersson. She … Continue reading
“Acting is like letting your pants down; you’re exposed.” — Paul Newman
It’s his birthday today. I am so glad I grew up in a time when Paul Newman was still a leading man (and he was a leading man up until the end). So I got to experience the pleasure of … Continue reading
Posted in Actors, Movies, On This Day
Tagged Elvis Presley, James Dean, Joanne Woodward, Marlon Brando, Paul Newman, Sidney Lumet
26 Comments
Dynamic Duo #47
Fredric March and Gary Cooper.
“I’m not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know I’m not dumb… and I also know that I’m not blonde.” — Dolly Parton
An American original. Born on this day. A living legend. A national treasure. I have too many favorite Dolly Parton songs to list, and I love her stuff with Porter Wagoner. Speaking of which, have you seen the episode of … Continue reading
“I pretended to be somebody I wanted to be until finally I became that person. Or he became me.” — Archie Leach
As my friend Mitchell observed: To this day, people say, “Oh so-and-so’s the new Cary Grant.” Cary Grant was acting in 1930. We’re talking 70 years ago. Almost 80 years ago, and we’re still referring to people as the “new … Continue reading