There is a dark side in all of us. And for us 'bad' people, the bad side dominates. I think there is a great sadness in villains, and I have tried to put that across. We cannot stop ourselves doing what we are doing.
Christopher LeeRead
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of impactful performances over lengthy ones in acting.
Christopher Lee conveys that in the realm of acting, it's not about the duration of the role but the significance and memorability of the character portrayed. He believes that short yet meaningful parts can leave a lasting impression on the audience, demonstrating the value of substance over quantity in artistic expression.
Themes
ActingArtImpactPerformanceMemorable
In practice
Example use cases
During an acting workshop, I quoted Christopher Lee to highlight the importance of impactful performance.
More from Christopher Lee
All quotes →Before 'Lord of the Rings,' some people would have just classed Peter Jackson as a horror director. But there is a mind there.
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The thing I have always tried to do is surprise people: to present them with something they didn't expect.
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Every actor has to make terrible films from time to time, but the trick is never to be terrible in them.
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I think acting is a mixture of instinct, imagination and inventiveness. All you can learn as an actor is basic technique.
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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 LeeRead
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