Quotes from John Leguizamo

I love theater. I think theater, when its done right, is the best, like a religious experience. When it is done badly, it's the worst thing. It's just an incredible experience.

It's not quite the same as other kinds of performing, but I love animation. It is just a different kind of experience. The difference is that making a live action movie you are using your whole body.

I love cartoons. So when they came to me to make Ice Age and this sequel, I was so happy.

All artists draw from their lives, except they mask it and camouflage it... which is the smarter way to do it.

I was always writing. I was writing in high school because it was a really competitive school for class clowns; I used to have to write all of my snaps and my disses the night before and then act like I was making it up the next day.

I did Brad's first film The Take and I'm glad Brad [Furman] has not calmed down. I don't want him to ever calm down.

Chopin or Billy Eckstine or Miles Davis - that stuff helps me, more when I've already written and I need a little energy to keep editing.

Work for work's sake doesn't thrill me, but when I'm in the zone, I'm creative, and the expression is free.

In theater, you can be free. That's how Lin-Manuel Miranda got to do the most revolutionary piece of theater with 'Hamilton': color-blind casting in roles in which they would never cast Latinos if it were a film or TV show. It just goes to show that Hollywood and cable are way behind.

I did the bible as told through Hispanic people and they laughed and applauded. I thought, "Oh my god, this is what I want to do for the rest of my life."

I love life, man, and I embrace every minute of it so maybe I bring that on the set. I love people and I want to have a good time.

[Brad Furman] wants to try stuff, he's willing to try stuff. And he wants electricity on the camera. And that's what I want, I want electricity whenever I'm performing.

Why is the world that I see around me mixed, and why is the world I see in movies filled with all white people? Why does it have to be like that?

We need a lot more positive Latin role models in movies and in television. They exist! It's not fiction.

Most of the great directors I've worked with - De Palma, Spike Lee - like rehearsals.

We need to stand up and become a united front against a common enemy. It's important for us to not be divided.

I have huge respect for whistle-blowers, people who stand up against their bosses and losing their careers, just for truth and justice.

I love the power of theater. I think it's an experience you never forget.

I was growing up and maturing at a time where we were invisible, man. We were nowhere except negative. Any time you saw a Latin person in Hollywood or on TV, they were some sort of negative character.

My parents were incredibly strict, almost military style.

First I went to C.W. Post and I was a psychology and theater major and then I transferred to NYU's Tisch School of the Arts as a drama major.

That's the happiest I am, when I'm doing great work.

I think as you mature as an actor things open up to you in a lot of ways, especially if you do work on yourself.

Acting is kind of a calling for me so I'm just happy to be there and do great work.