Annette Bening quotes

Annette Bening is an acclaimed American actress known for her versatile performances in film, television, and theater. Her roles in movies such as "American Beauty" and "The Kids Are All Right" have earned her critical acclaim and numerous award nominations. She continues to be celebrated for her powerful screen presence and dedication to her craft. Here are 21 of her quotes:

I remember hearing someone say that good acting is more about taking off a mask than putting one on, and in movie acting, certainly that's true. With the camera so close, you can see right down into your soul, hopefully. So being able to do that in a way is terrifying, and in another way, truly liberating. And I like that about it.

Annette Bening

I still remember the five points of salesmanship: attention, interest, conviction, desire and close.

Annette Bening

I like that I've been through things, that when something happens, it resonates with something that already happened. It's not that things like loss are more or less painful. But they're deeper. I find that fascinating.

Annette Bening

Oh, honey, I'm from Oklahoma! This is who I am - middle-class all the way!

Annette Bening

We still want to idealize moms, and sometimes we want to idealize actresses who are moms, too. I know that's something I've experienced, but we're all just doing the best we can and we're all trying to raise our kids and talk to them about everything that needs to be discussed.

Annette Bening

We all perform our lives in a way. And the actor is a perfect metaphor to get at that theme of "how do we find our authentic selves?" And that we all - whether we're actors or not - perform ourselves. As a way of searching. As a way of fumbling around and trying to say, is this my voice? Is this who I am?

Annette Bening

If you're an actor, you have to find a way to make peace with all the media attention.

Annette Bening

I don't see myself as competing with other actresses. I mean, I went through a time when I was in New York, and I was going to lots of auditions and trying to get parts, but even then, you're not really competing with the other actresses. There is a competition going on, but it's not like something you can win in that way.

Annette Bening

And if there's anything movies can do in a way that I just love, and I love as an audience is, "Show me something I don't know about. Show me something I haven't seen."

Annette Bening

Most people are looking for something to give their life meaning.

Annette Bening

I've always been pretty levelheaded. In show business, you need to have a certain internal stability.

Annette Bening

I think what's interesting about the whole paparazzi thing is that unless you're Brad Pitt or Madonna, you can pretty much avoid it. You know when you're going to an opening that you will be photographed, so that's fine. And you know the restaurants that have paparazzi, so you don't go to them.

Annette Bening

Acting is not about being famous, it's about exploring the human soul.

Annette Bening

I don't really have a choice. I'm getting older.

Annette Bening

I love being busy, and I love having a lot going on; it's exciting.

Annette Bening

Five billion people have played Hamlet. 'To be or not to be.' And how do you do that and find your way into your own journey, your own way of telling it?

Annette Bening

I always wonder about people's history and their lives, especially people that are a little bit more distant, who obviously have had some kind of a thing, and you know there's some reason why they're not able to connect. It's not because they don't want to. They don't have the ability.

Annette Bening

I knew I wanted children in my life. The acting was always in relation to it. Life at home is chaos. They're wonderful. They're such interesting human beings. I just love it. I'm lucky.

Annette Bening