Michael Biehn Quotes

I`d rather have a small part in a good film with good people than play the lead in something I don`t really care for.

I do firmly believe that I`ve been overlooked, especially in "Terminator." Jim Cameron was saying to me at the time, "I don`t know Michael why you are not being offered more movies now. All of us expected it, you know?" But now, five or six years later, when everyone has seen the movie five or six times on video people are beginning to realize how good it was and what a good performance it was. But I have to say I don`t feel shortchanged and I don`t resent anything. I think it`s best in the long run. Look at the Brat Pack: Those guys got so much so fast that they were never allowed to really struggle and know what good chances they had in much of the work they were doing. So, even though I felt that some of my work was overlooked at times I know that it has made me stronger and better and it has made me work harder to get other jobs and be good in them. (from a 1989 interview)

(Talking about the chase scenes in "The Terminator") Looking back on it, I realize we were really going at some high speeds those nights. One night, my adrenaline was running so high I actually tore the steering wheel off, and I just looked over at Linda (Hamilton) and said `Here, you drive!`

I was feeling real good and real manly. Until a real cowboy walked by and told me I had my hat on backwards. So much for my career as a cowboy.

They gave me the chaps and hat and everything. I looked like a real cowboy. I walked around the rodeo and thought, I am a real cowboy and thought everyone thought I was a real cowboy.

I know why they think of me as intense. It`s because on the set I`m very concentrated. I don`t just walk on and do my thing and walk off. I`m very intense when I`m working. I know exactly what I`m doing before I get in there.

(About not spending much time with Arnold Schwarzenegger on the original Terminator) I saw him around, you know. He was doing his thing, I was doing my thing, but I didn`t really get to talk to him because Linda and I spend the entire film running away from Arnold.

I don`t have a computer. I don`t know anything about that. I don`t even know what a website is.

I would say that one of the things that we are proud of is that we are attracting very interesting guest stars. One is Tyne Daly, who has done a wonderful job.

All the actors have input as far as story editing and writing. We don`t just show up and say the lines. We are involved in writing the show.

I`d rather have a small part in a good film with good people than play the lead in something I don`t really care for.

Right before Mag Seven I did a movie called The Bull Rider.

I do a lot of research on most of my roles and before I start a role when I read a script I know all of the beats in the script and I know exactly how to do it because I`ve read about such a character or experienced similar things myself or had the same sort of relationship with people. So, when I go in to act it it`s mostly technique. I`m not an actor who just lets things happen in front of the camera.

I had a weird situation were someone used my name to extort money from a woman. He took her for 60 or 80 thousand dollars. He is in prison now. It was on Sally.

When I was a kid everyone used to call me pork `n.

I am much more involved in the filmmaking experience on Mag Seven. I`m much more involved in story elements, casting decisions, the writing of the show, the blocking of the scenes.

I grew up in Arizona and have a lot of buddies that are cowpokes.

A sense of insecurity, I think. It really comes down to not really having a full understanding of myself and my sense of self and having a real confidence in myself as a person. I seem to be able to have more confidence in some characters I play, knowing right down the line exactly the way that I feel about things about the character whereas in real life I`m more insecure. I don`t really know the answers.