In college, I was teetering on the edge: Do I want to be an actor? Do I not want to be an actor? And then I saw Michael Caine in 'Alfie,' and I thought, 'Wow, that's what I want to do with my life,' even if I knew I'd never reach that level of proficiency.

Richard Jenkins

But I loved making 'Eat Pray Love,' and I loved working with Julia Roberts.

Richard Jenkins

'My character wouldn't do that.' That was always my favorite thing people say: 'My character wouldn't do that.' I said, 'Well, it says right here in this script your character does that.'

Richard Jenkins

There are so many things that go into a movie that it's amazing that anything gets made anyway.

Richard Jenkins

I like not knowing what's around the corner. It's always been that way, and maybe that's one of the reasons why I'm an actor.

Richard Jenkins

I worked with Mike Nichols. First time I worked with Mike Nichols, I just really loved this man.

Richard Jenkins

I always loved movies. I wanted to be in them! I always saw them and said, 'How do you do that?' It seemed like going to the moon. It was not a rational thought, but that's the only thing I wanted to do.

Richard Jenkins

If I'm playing a bad guy, and I'm playing him evilly - I'm making him evil; I'm being evil because I want the audience to understand that he's bad - or if I have a line that's funny, I do it in a comedic way, that, to me, is a lie. It's dead when I watch it.

Richard Jenkins

I don't watch the dailies. You want to just turn in your resignation when you watch the dailies.

Richard Jenkins

When I was a kid, I loved horror films. I used to stay up on Saturday night to watch.

Richard Jenkins

A Western would be good. I'd love to do a Western.

Richard Jenkins

Any time you die in a film, it's not real, so it's all kind of fun.

Richard Jenkins

I like relaxed sets. I like to feel that I can make a mistake without feeling like I'm costing somebody money. I like a sense of freedom. I like it when people are open and are willing to let you do your work.

Richard Jenkins

When there is tension, arguments and money problems, it's tough to do your work. Some people thrive on that. I don't.

Richard Jenkins

There's nothing like walking onto a Hollywood sound stage.

Richard Jenkins

I can't think of a lot of bad directors I've worked with, really.

Richard Jenkins

When I go to the movies, I want to see a human being dealing with their lives. That's all I ask.

Richard Jenkins

Sometimes, I can read a great script, and I don't like the part, or I don't think I'm right for it. I mean, there are times I've read really great parts and think there's so many other actors who could do this better than me. And I just say no to it.

Richard Jenkins

It's like, in movies where you talk to the audience 90 percent of the time, it's - you kind of want to stay away from that stuff. But, you know - but to write exposition brilliantly is hard.

Richard Jenkins

I understand being alone. I understand not liking it, wishing for something else.

Richard Jenkins

I was an only child, and I spent a lot of time alone. My dad was an only child, too, so we didn't have a big family, and I was really close with both of my parents. Like any kid, I thought I knew more than they did.

Richard Jenkins