I was terrorized by the emotional requirements of being an…

I was terrorized by the emotional requirements of being an actor. Acting is like letting your pants down; you’re exposed.

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Quoted in John Skow, “Verdict on a Superstar,” Time (1982-12-06 )

Other Paul Newman Quotes

I’ve repeatedly said that for people as little in common as Joanne and myself, we have an uncommonly good marriage. We are actors, we make pictures — and that’s about all we have in common. Maybe that’s enough. Wives shouldn’t feel obligated to accompany their husbands to a ball game, husbands do look a bit silly attending morning coffee breaks with the neighbourhood wives when most men are out at work. Husbands and wives should have separate interests, cultivate different sets of friends — and not impose one upon the other. - View Quote Details on I’ve repeatedly said that for people as little in common…
Study your craft and know who you are and what’s special about you. Find out what everyone does on a film set, ask questions and listen. Make sure you live life, which means don’t do things where you court celebrity, and give something positive back to our society. - View Quote Details on Study your craft and know who you are and what’s…
To be an actor, you have to be a child. - View Quote Details on To be an actor, you have to be a child.
Being on President Nixon’s enemies list was the highest single honor I’ve ever received. Who knows who’s listening to me now and what government list I’m on? - View Quote Details on Being on President Nixon’s enemies list was the highest single…
The embarrassing thing is that my salad dressing is out-grossing my films. - View Quote Details on The embarrassing thing is that my salad dressing is out-grossing…
I never ask my wife about my flaws. Instead I try to get her to ignore them and concentrate on my sense of humor. You don’t want any woman to look under the carpet because there’s lots of flaws underneath. Joanne believes my character in a film we did together, “Mr. and Mrs. Bridge ” comes closest to who I really am. I personally don’t think there’s one character who comes close… but I learned a long time ago not to disagree on things that I don’t have a solid opinion about. - View Quote Details on I never ask my wife about my flaws. Instead I…
Paul likes to test himself. That’s what makes Paul run. He’s got a lot of courage, a highly underrated element in people’s lives these days. - View Quote Details on Paul likes to test himself. That’s what makes Paul run…
He has the attention span of a bolt of lightning. - View Quote Details on He has the attention span of a bolt of lightning.
It’s all been a bad joke that just ran out of control. I got into food for fun but the business got a mind of its own. Now — my good Lord — look where it has gotten me. My products are on supermarket shelves, in cinemas, in the theater. And they say show business is odd. - View Quote Details on It’s all been a bad joke that just ran out…
I cannot bear to look at a film that I made before 1990. Maybe 1985. There’s no sense even trying to explain it. I really just can’t watch myself. I see all the machinery at work and it just drives me nuts, so I don’t look at anything. - View Quote Details on I cannot bear to look at a film that I…