Quotes from Laurie Metcalf

I wasn't turning down film roles, let's put it that way. I was never really on that radar.

You know, if a TV show dropped into my lap out of the blue, I would have a hard time turning it down because there just isn't the money in theater that there is on TV.

I almost never give interviews. It's not because I want to play hard to get. It's just that I never seem to have anything interesting to say.

My profession is about as far away from growing up in southern Illinois as you can get.

When I get a beautifully written piece of material, I immediately start imagining how I would interpret it. I love just daydreaming about it for months, breaking it down, seeing where I can spin something. How I can turn this into the most fun ride for the audience that I can make it? That's my job.

I was horribly shy all through grade school and high school. But somehow I got up the nerve to audition for one play in high school - 'Auntie Mame.' I got a small part as the fiancee who comes on in the end. I got laughs. I wasn't shy at all doing the part. I can do anything on stage and write it off as a character.

No matter how many times you've done it, the early stages of getting a show up on its feet is very hit and miss. There seem to be thousands of options on every page to discover.

When one thing ends, you put it away and start from scratch on the next thing.

I watch episodes of 'Rosanne' now where I don't even know what the ending's going to be.

A dream job is to walk right past hair and makeup.

I was too practical to major in theater. Acting - what was I going to do with acting? There was no future in it.