I feel like having something that you’re passionate about helps to keep you young.
-Paul Dano
On set, the playground for the character, how much it takes varies. Is it like ballet, is it like jazz? The content always lends itself to the form, and it’s really not mathematics.
-Paul Dano
The only constant I can find is hard work.
-Paul Dano
It’s a constant learning process – not just what you need to learn for the character or as far as good actors – but as an actor, there’s no limit. Every time now, you’re learning so, I think that’s a good thing though.
-Paul Dano
You try to get to know your character as best as you can before you start filming – whats written and not written.
-Paul Dano
In tragedy, it’s hard to find a good resolution; it’s not black and white: it’s a big fog of gray.
-Paul Dano
I always have an adjustment period where I’m so happy to be home, but then my sense of purpose is totally gone.
-Paul Dano
The less acting you have to do, the better, I think.
-Paul Dano
I think carrying your gut, or your instincts, through all the learning, is one of the most important things. You learn to prepare for a part in different ways, you learn to experiment, what you do for the character – you try working in different ways.
-Paul Dano
My first thought about acting, growing up here in New York, was theater, and I feel like I need to force myself to go get my ass kicked in a rehearsal room and do one of those plays at some point.
-Paul Dano
I love cereal. I eat several bowls a day, mostly a few late at night.
-Paul Dano
I dont normally like getting dressed up, but when I go to events, I like to look put together. Ive got to say, getting in a nice suit feels good.
-Paul Dano
I approach every role from scratch.
-Paul Dano
I remember going to the theatre when I was little and the lights going down and just getting really scared about what was going to happen up there.
-Paul Dano
For me, playing a really bad character is about figuring out what brought the person to where we need him.
-Paul Dano
I try to leave my work at the door when I leave the set. It’s almost like summer camp. You go in hard, then you leave, and it’s done.
-Paul Dano
If I could get myself in an editing room, that’d be trouble. I mean, that’s how it works, you know? You leave everything on the field. I would pick apart – I do, even on the first time. More than once is just too much self-destruction. I don’t need that.
-Paul Dano
I feel like rumors get crazy and people blow up the whole internet with news. I feel like, once you’re doing a job, you shouldn’t talk about it.
-Paul Dano
Of course I think it’s a movie for everybody [Insane Farting Corpse], but that’s probably just because it’s a movie for me.
-Paul Dano
It just so happens that when I was, like, 19 or 20, I got a couple of auditions and got a couple parts with good people. Of the thousands of auditions where you don’t get the part, I’ve done a couple of jobs where you do it and you’re like, “Okay, this is good.”
-Paul Dano