Dennis Christopher

I always think that people who are - maybe 'insane' is too strong a word, but there's more of a spiritual connection. Sometimes they can see below the surface.

Because of fear, and the way my career went, I started playing a lot of villainous roles.

In my drive to be the perfect artist, I've left a lot of living to the side.

Acting had become something I did and did well - but didn't particularly enjoy.

I've done a lot of stage in my life, but I never had to dominate a stage for three hours.

Work has been my lover - I've shied away from any commitments.

The secret is that I am Italian.

I'm not getting involved in sports anymore, except on film. I'm not agile unless a camera's going.

'Breaking Away' was a great experience. It's the kind of movie that engenders a lot of goodwill from people. It's a movie that they cherish. and I feel very welcomed and accepted by people because of that.

One of my best friends, Stephen Sprouse, Bill Dugan, and I worked designing clothes, doing every conceivable thing. New York was a really intoxicating period for me, literally and figuratively. There was a lot of overlap with Andy Warhol, Studio 54, and Halston.

There were two things I wanted to be: an actor and a hippie.

I've had the good fortune of working with some amazing people. I mean, my first Broadway show was with Elizabeth Taylor and Maureen Stapleton. Maureen Stapleton, a legend in the theatre; Elizabeth Taylor, a legend, period.

I've done three Broadway shows; once the curtain goes up, that's it. I mean, you prepare and you rehearse like crazy, but after opening night, the director's not there anymore, you know. He gives you notes during previews after each performance, but opening night, you're on your own.

I have my opinions about the way my father was. But they are my opinions, not necessarily the truth, and they are certainly not the whole spectrum of what this man was going through. It's my young, selfish interpretation of that person.

You don't get paid a whole lot for theatre, but you know, I feel more like, 'Where could I buy this experience, and how much would it cost? Who else would give me this kind of focus and put me in a room with this kind of talent?'

I don't know why every actor doesn't do more plays.

The cult of celebrity turned me off, and when the opportunities came along for me to play different characters, that's what I went for rather than the safe choices.

Character actors have a long shelf life.

I guess once you've seen Uma Thurman beaten up endlessly in the 'Kill Bill' movies, you think, 'If Uma can take it, what's the matter with me?'

It would be a dream come true to appear on Turner Classic Movies with Robert Osborne, who is one of my heroes.

I've had a 'Zelig'-like career. I pop up unexpectedly. I'm always kind of around.

A script arrived, and on the front cover - scrawled really big, as if it were a book report - is 'Django Unchained, written by Quentin Tarantino.' And I thought, 'Well, no art department came up with this; this is Quentin's writing.'

I had a handle on satisfaction, and I loved my career, but I didn't really know what happiness was. So I started on this quest to have a happy life.

'Breaking Away' was a great experience. It's the kind of movie that engenders a lot of goodwill from people.

I've done a lot of things with theater that I'm very, very proud of.