Christopher Lee quotes

Christopher Lee was a renowned English actor and singer, celebrated for his deep voice and imposing screen presence. His career included iconic roles in horror films, fantasy classics like "The Lord of the Rings," and over 275 film appearances. He was also admired for his musical talents and lifelong dedication to the arts. Here are 36 of his quotes:

When the Second World War finished, I was 23 and already I had seen enough horror to last me a lifetime. I'd seen dreadful, dreadful things, without saying a word. Seeing horror depicted on film doesn't affect me much.

Christopher Lee

As far as I am concerned, Don Quixote is the most metal fictional character that I know. Single handed, he is trying to change the world, regardless of any personal consequences.

Christopher Lee

The thing I have always tried to do is surprise people: to present them with something they didn't expect.

Christopher Lee

I haven't spent my entire career playing the guy in the bad hat, although I have to say that the bad guy is frequently much more interesting than the good guy.

Christopher Lee

What's really important for me is, as an old man, I'm known by my own generation and the next generation know me, too.

Christopher Lee

I am never going to stop playing the villain. I would be foolish to do so because the audiences apparently enjoy watching me, and who am I to say no?

Christopher Lee

We don't live in a particularly attractive world. I don't really remember, except as a small boy, anything but a pretty grim world.

Christopher Lee

We don't always get the kind of work we want, but we always have a choice of whether to do it with good grace or not.

Christopher Lee

I associate heavy metal with fantasy because of the tremendous power that the music delivers.

Christopher Lee

I'm much softer than people think. I don't present to the world an emotional face. I'm pretty good at self-control, but I am easily moved.

Christopher Lee

Films are now made by accountants. They pick a pretty young female or male face out of the air and give them a part - not because they think that person is right for it or is ready for it, but because they think that person will make them money.

Christopher Lee

There was a gap of seven years between the first and second Dracula movies. In the second one as everybody knows, I didn't speak, because I said I couldn't say the lines.

Christopher Lee

I lived for 10 years in Los Angeles, and the one element that surpasses everything else - that you are very conscious of - is fear. You can smell it.

Christopher Lee

Acting as a profession came to me by chance: in 1946, after the war, I was having lunch with my cousin, who was the Italian ambassador, and he asked, 'What are you going to do now you're out of uniform?' I said, 'I'm pretty inventive, and I can imitate people,' and he said, 'Have you thought about being an actor?'

Christopher Lee

The saddest country I went to was Romania, years ago, during Ceausescu's rule.

Christopher Lee

I've always acknowledged my debt to Hammer. I've always said I'm very grateful to them. They gave me this great opportunity, made me a well-known face all over the world for which I am profoundly grateful.

Christopher Lee

I don't play long parts. They must be short parts, but they've got to be parts that mean something, that matter, where people will notice when I'm on the screen, and people will remember the character after they've seen the film.

Christopher Lee

The secret to a long marriage in the film industry? Marry someone wonderful, as I did. And always have her come along on location.

Christopher Lee

I didn't want to be known as a man who only made horror films. I made some - very few.

Christopher Lee

Comedy is the most difficult thing to do. Easily the most difficult.

Christopher Lee

Fun seems to be a three-letter word these days, although with directors like Tim Burton and George Lucas, it's fun, fun, fun while working yourself to death. But if you compare those Hammer movies to what has been made in the last 20 years - Brian de Palma, Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, George Lucas, Wes Craven, Tim Burton and Peter Jackson have all said the same thing to me: 'We were brought up on your movies.

Christopher Lee

My favourite country is Finland because once you get to a certain point, you can drive for hours without seeing a single person. I love peace and quiet - something I don't get very often.

Christopher Lee