John C. Reilly quotes

Born
May 24, 1965, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

Occupation
Actor, comedian.

I was never a very dependable employee for anything. Perfect for the actor’s life!
– John C. Reilly

Oh, absolutely, it felt more serious than your typical job. One of the things that got us through how difficult the shooting actually was was that we are telling a real story.
– John C. Reilly

A script is like a theory of a movie.
– John C. Reilly

Being unprepared makes me nervous. I’m old-fashioned show folk.
– John C. Reilly

One of the unique things is that whether we were out at sea or in the middle of the water tank, a lot of times you just couldn’t leave. Especially when we were out at sea.
– John C. Reilly

People say, ‘Don’t you get tired of people coming up to you all the time?’ But what’s wrong with strangers saying they love you?
– John C. Reilly

I feel like a teenager myself, so I appreciate it when the kids think you’re all right.
– John C. Reilly

An actor’s life is like a series of – it’s like the first day of school happening over and over again.
– John C. Reilly

Why people pick me for the roles that they do is a bit of a mystery.
– John C. Reilly

I try to take things that challenge me either physically or mentally, or I have to learn a new skill.
– John C. Reilly

I love that people can’t place me. They don’t know my name. That’s ‘mission accomplished’ in my world.
– John C. Reilly

Animation is a great way to work. No early morning call times, no make-up chair. In live action, you’re always fighting the clock; the sun is always going down too soon.
– John C. Reilly

Surprising people is the key to career longevity for someone like me.
– John C. Reilly

I swear and it comes off a little angry, no matter how funny I’m trying to do it. If I use certain words with a certain intensity, it’s like ‘Whoa whoa whoa, buddy buddy!’
– John C. Reilly

When they’re good, I like working with new actors.
– John C. Reilly

I give as much as I can, and it’s up to someone else to turn it into a movie. Good luck to you!
– John C. Reilly

I would consider directing. I think directing myself would be tough, but I’m definitely interested in directing. I might start off directing a play before I move to a film.
– John C. Reilly

I view my strongest competition as myself. You’re always trying to top yourself, rather than worrying about what other people are doing.
– John C. Reilly

That’s one of the difficult things of being an actor that I’m still not used to. You have to go, you have to show up at these places where you know nobody, and sometimes with really impressive, high stakes people like Roman Polanski.
– John C. Reilly

My family are all storytellers, and I think I inherited a lot more of that gene than other people in my family. I guess I was fun to have around.
– John C. Reilly

Really if you look at my filmography, there’s something for everyone!
– John C. Reilly

From the first time I did a movie, people have said, ‘Oh, it’s all going to change now.’ And it would change, but very incrementally. I think I prefer that to some big explosion of fame all of the sudden.
– John C. Reilly

God forbid you got seasick because there was no option to go back. So that really did force us to be a group.
– John C. Reilly

Young people can be annoying, let’s face it. But they can also be really refreshing to be around and full of enthusiasm.
– John C. Reilly

Acting’s all about the confidence you exude, especially on film. I mean, nervousness isn’t attractive in anyone, but a film camera will seek it out and punish you.
– John C. Reilly

If people want to see me in comedies, that’s fine with me.
– John C. Reilly