I was preparing myself for the theater, and... I got a little job here and a job there, but it wasn't going well, and I considered some time before the mid-60s that maybe I should consider something else.
I was as content Off-Broadway as I was in a big Hollywood movie, and, I just try to be content wherever I am, you know.
I mean, my people were very, very simple. They were peasant people, you know?
I knew real show business from my father, who had been an actor since he left the world of boxing.
I happened to happened to land in a time, in the middle '60s, that without knowing it, and without being told by the history of theater - which we now see from a historical point of view was an explosive time.
I don't ever want to be a sentimentalist. I prefer to be a realist. I'm not a romantic really.
Before my grandpa built his own church, we went to the neighboring town, and it was a white community. You know, up north, mostly middle European people and Indians, Chippewa Indians. We were welcome to that church, but once we got in, they didn't know what to do with us.
And nothing embittered me, which is important, because I think ethnic people and women in this society can end up being embittered because of the lack of affirmative action, you know.
And it was the idea that you can do a play - like a Shakespeare play, or any well-written play, Arthur Miller, whatever - and say things you could never imagine saying, never imagine thinking in your own life.
Acting is not about anything romantic, not even fantasy, although you do create fantasy.
People who lusted after Marilyn Monroe had no idea she stuttered. It is the secret of her sexiness, actually.
I'd like to film a British commercial; they're better than American ones.
I love doing commercials! Usually, they have enough money that they can take time and photograph it well.
You cannot be an actor like I am and not have been in some of the worst movies like I have. But I stand before you deeply honored, mighty grateful and just plain gobsmacked.
I love to see actors' work. I love to surf channels late at night and accidentally run into movies I hadn't seen before. It makes me very proud of the profession.
Actors never discuss future plans.
I consider myself a novice film actor.
There's nothing I would retire for, so I won't retire.
