Matthew Macfadyen quotes

Matthew Macfadyen is an English actor recognized for his work in film, television, and theatre. International audiences know him for roles in projects such as "Pride & Prejudice," "Succession," and "Ripper Street." He is acclaimed for his versatility and subtle character portrayals. Here are 29 of his quotes:

I try to be fussy about the parts I play. I think that's quite prudent, it means you're stretching different muscles, and you're scaring yourself by doing something which is out of your comfort zone. (Matthew Macfadyen)
I can't throw books away. My wife is always telling me to get rid of some. View quote
Matthew Macfadyen
I was quite a shy child. I would get terribly nervous and throw up before my birthday party. And then I would be fine. I feel the same now. I get nervous, then it's fine. View quote
Matthew Macfadyen
Nobody's really unsympathetic, I think. People do good and bad things. If a character's totally unsympathetic, they're not real and I'm not interested. Even the real monsters have to have a spark of something you can relate to. View quote
Matthew Macfadyen
The security comes, as an actor, in knowing that you're not in control. If you try to control your career, or how people perceive you, you'll make yourself unhappy, because life doesn't work like that. So much is luck. It's much better to let yourself off, to think, 'There's nothing I can do.' View quote
Matthew Macfadyen
It must be odd, being recognisable. I would hate to lose that anonymity. It happened for a while with 'Spooks.' No one notices me now. View quote
Matthew Macfadyen
It's a real skill to be able to publicise yourself. View quote
Matthew Macfadyen
I love TV and I love making films and I love doing plays. I feel very lucky to be able to do all three. View quote
Matthew Macfadyen
As much as I long for a sort of security and consistency sometimes, I do enjoy sort of being busted around. I really don't know what's happening sometimes next week, let alone this year. View quote
Matthew Macfadyen
You never know how films are going to do and it is daunting if I think about it. View quote
Matthew Macfadyen
Apart from earning an awful lot of money, why would you go to Hollywood? (Matthew Macfadyen)
I think people ought to do what they feel useful at the time. If I do things because I ought to do them, I switch off. View quote
Matthew Macfadyen
I'd auditioned for the National Youth Theatre and I didn't get a place and it was terrifying. View quote
Matthew Macfadyen
People like to think that actors are terribly worried about ghosts of other actors in the parts they play. But you just have to get on with it. View quote
Matthew Macfadyen
The actor in me would always like to be more dashing, or slimmer, or have nicer hair. View quote
Matthew Macfadyen
I've worried more and more as the years have gone on. The more you're seen to be doing well, the more stress there is. You feel you ought to consider things more, and be more fussy - there's further to fall. All these little worries. View quote
Matthew Macfadyen
It must be odd, being recognizable. I would hate to lose that anonymity. View quote
Matthew Macfadyen
I just loved the whole idea of being an actor. View quote
Matthew Macfadyen
I don't feel like a romantic lead; I guess I feel more like a character actor. View quote
Matthew Macfadyen
I wouldn't want to leave it so long before doing a play again, I get very stolid and sluggish if I do too much telly. View quote
Matthew Macfadyen
I did four or five years in telly, and by the end of it was drained. I was a bit sick of myself. I didn't feel like an actor anymore. That sounds silly, but when you're doing a play you're using different muscles, and it blew all the cobwebs away. (Matthew Macfadyen)
Nobody's just arrogant. I've met people who are embattled and dismissive, but when you get to know them, you find that they're vulnerable - that that hauteur or standoffishiness is because they're pedaling furiously underneath. View quote
Matthew Macfadyen
There's always a concern as an actor that you'll be boring unless your character is swinging from a chandelier. View quote
Matthew Macfadyen
I think it sits quite happily with me, the condition of being an actor. I see some people getting quite eaten up with it, with the insecurities. There are times when I long for continuity and stability, but I also love the idea of not knowing what I'll be doing next - or even if I'm going to work. View quote
Matthew Macfadyen
Some British actors are snobby about telly, and I don't understand that. View quote
Matthew Macfadyen

Matthew Macfadyen

Matthew Macfadyen - Image
Photo: Tomaholic, CC BY-SA 3.0
Occupation: English Actor
Born: October 17, 1974
Quotes count: 29