Malcolm McDowell Quotes

One man can change the world with a bullet in the right place.

The definition of insanity in Texas is so insane that it's impossible to be insane in Texas.

Once you commit to something, you've got to commit the whole way. Try and make the best of it.

I particularly love theater, I just love a challenge, and always have, and will do anything to make it interesting. I'll try anything, really, as long as it's a challenge and you can have some fun doing it.

The most dangerous people are always clever, compelling, and charismatic.

I am a professional actor and I don't go about moralizing about what the character does. Otherwise, seriously, why be an actor? You're not making some kind of social statement. That's not what actors do. They may inadvertently do it, but it's because of the script, not the acting.

If you look a little punkish, then they’re going to give you the parts. And if you play an iconic villain early on in your career, you tend to get asked to play one over and over and over again.

You know, I've had an incredible career and I'm blessed.

Let's not get too precious about it: actors are not heart surgeons or brain surgeons. We are just entertaining people.

The great thing about Burgess's work is the dichotomy of making the hero or anti-hero an immoral man. And that's what makes it interesting. Because, you know, you are sucked into kind of like this guy.

I'm very pragmatic in that I know there are very few greats in anything. I got lucky just to have gotten two of the real great filmmakers very early on. Better to have had them than to not have had them. I've been really fortunate. That's the key relationship on a movie: the director and the actor. Of course, you can't compare the experiences. When you're in your early 20s, you're a very different person. It was a very exciting time, and my whole world was changing. Now I'm looking back, and hoping I can still offer something. Still do good work.

There are no great scripts - just great films.

Real greatness comes from that sort of spontaneity of the moment that takes it into another level. That can never be planned; it happens or it doesn't. And you can't force it.

My favorite actor who played villains - who could play anything, really - was Jimmy Cagney.

I'd love to do radio plays. I think that one should be open to everything and shouldn't limit oneself. I particularly love theater, but with my family situation, it's much harder for me to do that now. I just love a challenge, and always have, and will do anything to make it interesting. I'll try anything, really, as long as it's a challenge and you can have some fun doing it. I think, honestly, having fun and keeping it fairly light are the key elements.

I think we're all a little afraid of the dark. If you lived in the country, as I did, there's nothing quite like country dark, which was really black. And as a child, your imagination runs wild.

An actor cannot be a censor. I'm there to interpret.

Different directors offer you different things, and it's not necessarily the most obvious things.

I never feel I repeat myself. I really go out of my way to amuse myself. I would be bored stiff. If I feel the déjavu when I'm doing something, I stop and rethink and rework it.

I like to razz the Trekkies a little bit. Who doesn't? It's trainspotting, isn't it? But they are very well-meaning, actually. I've done a couple of Star Trek conventions, and they've only been really welcoming.

It's always a fascinating subject - a serial killer let loose on a small community. It always holds, it's always scary.

The most nurturing of directors can make you feel too comfortable, and you don't really push for that extra whatever.

The thing is, I've never been a handsome leading-man type, so let's not kid ourselves.

I love doing every role I do!

I'd love to do radio plays. I think that one should be open to everything and shouldn't limit oneself.