Denis Lawson Quotes

The first four years, I worked exclusively in the theater. I did a great deal of different types of acting – avant garde and classical work. So, it was a very broad spectrum.

‘Local Hero’ was probably the most enjoyable job I’ve ever done then or since. It’s had a very long shelf life.

I’ve always felt a very strong affinity with Jewish people. Over the years I find I’ve become very friendly with certain people I’ve worked with – actors, producers, whatever – and then two or three years later I discover they’re Jewish.

Laughter is like surfing; it’s like a wave coming out of the auditorium – before it has died off, you must come in with the next line. But if you come in too soon, no one will hear what you say.

To make 800 people laugh for a couple of hours is a wonderful feeling, because you know you’re doing them a lot of good.

My first starring role was in ‘Rumpelstiltskin’ and the lightbulb moment for me came when I had to stamp my foot at the end and walk off the stage. Everyone laughed and I thought, ‘this is great.’

Going from dialogue-driven ‘New Tricks’ to a movie like ‘The Machine’ which has special effects has been brilliant.

My parents came out of Glasgow during the Depression and both – particularly my father – had very tough childhoods. They fought their way out of it.

I don’t really have a problem at all with doing a show that a lot of people watch.

Doing comedy is my favorite thing.

A big moment for me came when ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ came out. It hit me like a sledgehammer – that’s what I wanted to do.

I’d be very interested to direct myself on film. I think it would be almost impossible on the stage.

In my professional life, when I started I felt it was very transitory. You meet people, you have to make this very intense connection and then you might not see them for two years. It was kind of odd and when I started out I didn’t like it.

This is the best thing that happens to me all night – a pint of cold Guinness.

You just wear the clothes, you don’t let the clothes wear you.

Edinburgh is a phenomenal location for movies and should be used more.

For my money, acting has been over-intellectualized. It’s only playing.

Scotland is extraordinary as a location, the light is amazing, for instance on the west coast.

I quite like Jackson Pollock, and have a real gut reaction to it, so it does whatever it does to me.

I’m more careful now, but in the past I would always have to give 100 percent of myself to every single show.

I began to tell people that I wanted to be an entertainer. Between the ages of five and 11 there was an intense amount of practical drama going on.

I studied in Glasgow and, when I was young, I spent four years solely in theatre.

My mother was a dancer when she was a kid and I gather she was very good, but was never allowed to go into the profession.

I do some very high energy comedy, vaudeville, music hall stuff, and people who’ve seen my work on camera, on TV and movies, would not really know that.

What’s it like to have my trousers pulled down? It’s not as awful as it seems. Doing that kind of thing with an actress like Judith Paris, who pulls them down, is easy, because she is very professional about it.