“In Hollywood, I think I get a bad rap for being a perfectionist. It’s something that’s not always welcomed in Hollywood, because you’re always pushing people and you’re pushing yourself to be the best that you can be.”

Career diversification ain’t a bad thing.

My mother gave me this book called Feature Films at Used Car Prices by a guy named Rick Schmidt. I gotta credit the guy, cuz he gave me the most practical advice. It empowers you.

You live these three months in this reality, in this dark reality, you don’t want to do those films every year because they’re taxing. I started smoking a lot of cigarettes.

You break her heart, I’ll break your neck.

Find your confidence, lead with love, the rest will follow.

You make movies for the people. If critics happen to like them too, well, that’s a home run.

I’m a perfectionist. I’m very critical, especially artistically.

The most important thing in life will always be family. The people right here, right now.

I believe in paying special attention to every project that you do and supporting the projects you do.

The thing that stood out above and beyond all the experiences was this relationship with the nine-month-old baby. On weekends, I’d be thinking about going back to set on Monday just to see the baby.

I’ve been auditioning since I was 7 years old.

It’s like you have a child and you think, ‘Everything that I’ve done up until this point is insignificant in comparison to being a father.’ It’s a beautiful, beautiful thing.

Filmmaking is such a collaborative piece of art that you can’t look to one person – you couldn’t look to me, you couldn’t say, ‘Because Vin’s in it, it’s this or that.’ It’s really all of us coming together for that period of time to try and make magic.

You get a timeless cool card in New York.

Of course, I don’t act in an extreme fashion in my day to day life. I don’t think any of us live do. I think we all have that reserve somewhere and we pull upon it when we need it.

I grew up with all kinds of people.

Cicely Tyson was my inspiration to become an actor.

At times I think I actually hate Hollywood. I have many acquaintances there, but few friends.

My favourite actor is Daniel Day Lewis. He’s the finest actor in Hollywood. I’ve studied his performances.

Plagiarism is always the biggest thing in Hollywood.

What a fool I was to come to Hollywood where they only understand platinum blondes and where legs are more important than talent.

One can be respected with the truth in Hollywood just as much as anywhere else you know or else I wouldn’t have had a career.

Some young Hollywood starlets remind me of my grandmother’s old farmhouse — all painted up nice on the front side, a big swing on the backside, and nothing whatsoever in the attic.

There was more good acting at Hollywood parties than ever appeared on the screen.