When I was growing up, This is Spinal Tap [1984] was the ultimate comedy, and it was the kind of thing I wanted to do. But you get to a point with parody where you can’t go much further because ultimately it’s feeding off of somebody else’s creativity.
BEN STILLERMoisture is the essence of wetness, and wetness is the essence of beauty.
More Ben Stiller Quotes
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I’m always willing to endure humiliation on behalf of my characters.
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Whatever talent I had, I’m sure it helped that my parents were in the business and that I grew up around actors, comedians and directors.
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Words can only hurt you if you try to read them. Don’t play their game!
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I’m just not a naturally cheery person. I’m naturally moody. I know that from people who spend a lot of time with me. People who spend a lot of time with me may not wish to spend a lot more time with me.
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You have to stay in character in between takes.
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I think people will be curious to see what I can do as a dramatic actor.
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There’s always an element of fear that you need to work a lot until people get sick and tired of you or finally figure out that you’re a fraud after all!
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I don’t devalue comedy as compared to drama. Not one bit.
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I think you never want to have to go into the scene having to improvise; you want to make sure its working on the page. But I do like to have the ability to try stuff just in the moment, to give it some sort of spontaneity.
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Oh, you can milk just about anything with nipples.
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Jim Carrey, a comic genius, has a harder time overcoming the public’s desire for him to be funny simply because he’s so good at it.
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I was staying on [writer/director/actor] Eric Schaeffer’s couch in New York, and he said, “I’ve got this movie [If Lucy Fell]. Can you do five days on it?”
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When I didn’t have a family, I was much more of a workaholic. I still like to work, but I also want to be home with them. As you get older, you realize you need balance. If it’s not fun, what’s the point?
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Paul is Starsky, and I met him before shooting. He was very kind and encouraged us to go with what we wanted to do. It was very sweet to see them back with the car after 25 years.
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I studied Tom Cruise running in all the Mission Impossibles. I think he’s one of the best screen runners.
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