Peter Cushing Quotes

Who wants to see me as `Hamlet`? Very few. But millions want to see me as Frankenstein so that`s the one I do.

If I played Hamlet, they`d call it a horror film.

Teeth are a vitally important part of an actor`s equipment. I have over 30 toothbrushes at home and always keep a good supply at the studio.

I hate the word `hate`.

(on the wig he had to wear for Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1974)) It made me look like Helen Hayes.

"You have to have a sense of humour, darling, to be alive. Even a bit mad. It helps to be mad." - (1991)

There is little chance for a person to exercise the imagination today in this complex, programmed society we have.

"You cannot make a film like this without integrity. To make the audiences believe in you, you must believe utterly in what you are doing." - (1972)

My criterion for accepting a role isn`t based on what I would like to do. I try to consider what the audience would like to see me do and I thought kids would adore Star Wars.

"Strangely enough, I don`t like horror pictures at all. I love to make them because they give pleasure to people, but my favourite types of films are much more subtle than horror. I like to watch films like Bridge Over the River Kawi, The Apartment or lovely musicals." - (1980s)

An actor`s job is to entertain and I`m glad to say that my films succeeded in that respect.

There are all sorts of reasons why I don`t do much work in the theater, the main one being that after two performances I feel I`ve given all I can. I hate repetition, I really do. It`s like asking a painter to paint he same picture every day of his life.

In the early days I played a lot of comedy in the theater and on television. But once an actor becomes well known in any kind of part, he tends to get stereotyped. After I played Frankenstein, I was only thought of in that light. Of course, some actors are better at drama and some are better at comedy. But they can certainly have a stab at both. An actor should be able to do it all.

Television is rather a frightening business. But I get all the relaxation I want from my collection of model soldiers.

When Helen passed on six years ago I lost the only joy in life that I ever wanted. She was my whole life and without her there is no meaning. I am simply killing time, so to speak, until that wonderful day when we are together again.

There are all sorts of reasons why I don`t do much work in the theatre, the main one being that after two performances I feel I`ve given all I can. I hate repetition, I really do. It`s like asking a painter to paint he same picture every day of his life.

Since Helen passed on I can`t find anything; the heart, quite simply, has gone out of everything. Time is interminable, the loneliness is almost unbearable and the only thing that keeps me going is the knowledge that my dear Helen and I will be united again some day. To join Helen is my only ambition. You have my permission to publish that... really, you know dear boy, it`s all just killing time. Please say that. - Radio Times 1972

People look at me as if I were some sort of monster, but I can`t think why. In my macabre pictures, I have either been a monster-maker or a monster-destroyer, but never a monster. Actually, I`m a gentle fellow. Never harmed a fly. I love animals, and when I`m in the country I`m a keen bird-watcher. - ABC Film Review (Nov 1964)

Today`s youth cannot miss something they have never known, but I fear that there are no current fictional characters whose impact and influence will last with such abiding affection into their `sore and yellow` as this splendid man`s creations have in mine!

It gives me the most wonderful feeling. These dear people love me so much and want to see me. The astonishing thing is that when I made the Frankenstein" and "Dracula" movies almost 30 years ago the young audiences who see me now weren`t even born yet. A new generation has grown up with my films. And the original audiences are still able to see me in new pictures. So, as long as these films are made I will have a life in this business -- for which I`m eternally grateful." (from a 1985 "Starlog" interview)

I hope this doesn`t sound pompous but I don`t think of myself as famous, whatever fame I`ve got has come through what I`ve done and associations of things I`ve done.

You see I don`t like to be really too commercial about things but in this business you`ve just got to be commercial otherwise the films don`t make money and you don`t make films and as a long as a commodity is selling it`s silly to kill it dead.

I`m always glad to be offered roles, but wouldn`t take any role as this could do you more harm than good, but I`ve been at what they call `on the top` as far as being known for twenty years.

I didn`t set out to make this kind of picture. It just came my way. But its been going on for me for 16 years now and its wonderful for an actor to work consistently. There seems to be an insatiable audience for this type of film.

(on the wig he had to wear for _Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1974)_) "It made me look like Helen Hayes".

I don`t think there is really a favorite, I`m very fond of film making as a whole and as a medium and of course, there are some that I`ve enjoyed making more than others but I`ve enjoyed making all of them.

As far back as I can remember, I had a passion for `dressing up` and playing games of `Let`s Pretend`, which are, of course, the basic principals of acting, and if you are lucky enough, you get paid for so doing, hard work though it may be.