Los Angeles is not a town full of airheads. There's a great deal of wonderful energy there. They say 'yes' to things; not like the endless 'nos' and 'hrrumphs' you get in England!
Interpretation
This quote highlights the vibrant and open-minded spirit of Los Angeles compared to a more conservative mentality in England.
Alan Rickman contrasts the culture of Los Angeles with that of England, suggesting that the people in LA are more open and enthusiastic, while those in England may be more reserved and critical. The quote reflects an appreciation for the positive energy and willingness to embrace new experiences found in Los Angeles, celebrating a way of life that encourages acceptance and spontaneity.
In practice
In a speech about embracing change, I shared Alan Rickman's thoughts on the positive attitude present in Los Angeles.
Film has to be reflecting the world that we live in, and that's all you want to be a part of. Actors inhabit the same planet as everyone else. It's a weird thing that happens when you're an actor because people hold you up because you somehow embody in parts groups of people or people's hopes or something.
You can act truthfully or you can lie. You can reveal things about yourself or you can hide. Therefore, the audience recognizes something about themselves or they don't -- You hope they don't leave the theatre thinking that was nice...now where's the cab?'
I'm a lot less serious than people think, it's probably because the way my face is put together.
Those of you who are not aware of my brilliant career as a stand up comic, I'm not aware of it either so we might well wonder what we're doing here.
Acting is mostly about listening. If you just focus in on what the other person is saying, acting takes care of itself to quite a large extent.
When I am asked about influences, I always say I bow down to Fred Astaire, because when you look at him dancing you never look at his extremities, do you? You look at his centre. What you never see is the hours of work that went into the routines, you just see the breathtaking spirit and freedom.
If life is so critical, if Anne Frank could die, if my friend could die, children were as vulnerable as adults, and that gave me a secret purpose to my work, to make them live. Because I wanted to live. I wanted to grow up.
Looking forward into an empty year strikes one with a certain awe, because one finds therein no recognition. The years behind have a friendly aspect, and they are warmed by the fires we have kindled, and all their echoes are the echoes of our own voices.
The point is not to take the world's opinion as a guiding star but to go one's way in life and working unerringly, neither depressed by failure nor seduced by applause.
To have a childhood means to live a thousand lives before the one.
One of the hardest things in life is having words in your heart that you can't utter.
Nobody turns down an invitation to the White House, but Iβve seen plenty of people turn down an invitation to fully live.
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