Quotes from Paul Dano

I've been fortunate to work with several actors and directors who I look up to, and learned from each of them.

I volunteered at a homeless shelter in preparation for 'Being Flynn,' and when I'm walking along the Bowery, that's the first thing that comes to mind. That's a nice memory.

The hardest thing about working with your partner is that the work starts to become first.

Michael Caine is so happy. Happy and healthy. I think he enjoys life. I think he's 82 now, and I have no clue if I'll be working at that age.

To be called a genius at 17 or 18 years old can sometimes cause arrested development.

George C. Scott, man, was a powerful dude.

When I'm not acting, I like to go home and be really normal. So I usually grow out my hair until I get the next part.

You look at the part in '12 Years A Slave,' you finish that script - I mean, it's a powerful story. You go, 'Man, I have to play a bad character in this.' And then you go, 'Well, do I want to play a bad character and contribute to a good story?'

I don't like to spend a lot of money on haircuts: I'll sometimes grow my hair and get an acting job and get them to cut it for free. I think for a lady, though, it's okay to spend a lot on a haircut.

I think it is important to make sure that I have my real life as well, because Hollywood can certainly seem like an alternate reality sometimes.

I am baffled by good writing.

When you repeat yourself so many times, even if you're speaking the truth, the repetition starts to feel false. Sometimes, you just feel like the words you're speaking, even if they once had meaning, have lost it. And that makes you feel kind of silly.

One thing you notice is, there's a lot of people with raw talent, and then there's people who take that talent and work hard.

On 'There Will Be Blood,' I was cast at the last minute. I had 3 and a half to 4 days to get ready for the first day. I just went for it, threw myself in there and gave it everything I had. That was just guts and instinct, not a lot of preparation.

I would not take a girl to a club on a Thursday. I would not take her to a really noisy, swanky restaurant.

I don't like tight pants on guys.

I'm a private person, but I don't feel afraid to walk out of my door or anything. I get recognised occasionally, but not overwhelmingly so.

I mean, to feel in good hands as an actor... it's the best feeling.

There's that thing that if you want to have any kind of lasting love, I think you have to love the whole person and not just the parts of them that you choose.

I know an actor who would play one type of part but could never get cast as tough. Once he got cast as tough, as a cop, he only got offered cop roles. It's a funny business in that regard. It's all about perception.

I can obviously relate to a character who is an artist, because the creative process is a big part of my life.

The world of the homeless is a tough and interesting world.

Homeless people really upset me when I was little. A lot of kids have this reaction, but I would get really worried or sad or concerned or cry.

I love cereal. I eat several bowls a day, mostly a few late at night.