George C. Scott Quotes

(when asked for suggestions on how to judge acting) I have three tests. First, which dominates, the character or the actor? With very few exceptions it should be the character. Second, on film - as opposed to stage - we`re pretty much playing basic emotions: love, anger, fear, pity. So the trick is whether you can come up with any fresh choices to present these common emotions. Third - and this is the quality that separates the great ones from the good ones - I look for a "joy of performing" quality. Who had that quality? As much as anyone, Jimmy Cagney.

The (Academy Awards) ceremonies are a two-hour meat parade, a public display with contrived suspense for economic reasons.

There is no question you get pumped up by the recognition. Then a self-loathing sets in when you realize you`re enjoying it.

(on psychoanalysis) Four visits. I kept laughing. I couldn`t get serious. If it helps you, it helps you. If standing on your head on the roof helps you, it helps you - if you think so.

Directors are supposed to help the audience. Good directors don`t direct actors.

Bette Davis is my bloody idol. I admire her more than any other film star.

I became an actor to escape my own personality. Acting is the most therapeutic thing in the world. I think all the courage that I may lack personally, I have as an actor.

I have nothing against Oscar. I know what he stands for and it`s terrific. And I think when people used to hang around and pat each other on the back over a drink and dinner it was wonderful. But when it became an international hoopla, where careers lived and died on whether or not you did or didn`t get an Oscar, then it got out of hand.

Actors are the world`s oldest, underprivileged minority - looked upon as nothing but buffoons, one step above thieves and charlatans. These award ceremonies simply compound the image for me.

My violent behavior is some sort of aberration, a character defect I`m not particularly proud of.

Acting changes the inner spirit. It`s fulfilling, but psychologically very costly. You can`t steal enough money in a lifetime to make up for the damage. I`m ashamed for the bitterness it created in me, but it exists. Even when you`re successful it`s hard to rise above it. It`s like a growth.

For me the sexiest woman on the screen ever was Joan Blondell.

(on Paul Newman) I`ve never thought that Paul was a particularly good actor. He`s one of the sweet people of the world, an excellent producer. But I`ve never been a Paul Newman fan as far as acting goes. The only thing Paul`s ever done I really thought was first class was "Hud."

(on Jack Nicholson) He`s eccentric but very interesting. A unique kind of approach. He shines because he`s himself a rather interesting eccentric. A very fascinating actor.

on acting] It was the only avenue of escape I had from myself. It`s never been difficult to subjugate myself to a part because I don`t like myself too well. Acting was, in every sense, my means of survival.

Since childhood, the whole self-loathing thing was a big part of my makeup. Now I`ve learned to say, "OK, I`ve screwed up". Then I try to make amends.

I think you have to be schizoid three different ways to be an actor. You`ve got to be three different people. You have to be a human being. Then you have to be the character you`re playing. And on top of that you`ve got to be the guy sitting out there in Row 10, watching yourself and judging yourself. That`s why most of us are crazy to start with, or go nuts once we get into it. I mean, don`t you think it`s a pretty spooky way to earn a living?

Film is not an actor`s medium. You shoot scenes in order of convenience, not the way they come in the script, and that`s detrimental to a fully developed performance. There`s the terrible tedium and boredom involved in waiting around for the camera to be set up, and then you have to turn on and off when they do the scene over again. When you see the rushes is the first time you begin to judge your performance. If you get 50% of what you hoped for, you`re lucky.