Quotes from Juliette Lewis

Because I'm not perfect looking, I get to play better roles.

I'm actually very moral and nurturing, but I'm also adventurous. I am challenging.

I've been around for a long time now, and you start to hear these urban legends about yourself.

I always liken myself to the bearded lady. Because I'm an actress turned musician, a woman doing male-dominated rock & roll... I'm the oddity at the freak show, you know?

I have people come up to me who love 'The Other Sister,' or 'Old School,' or 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape.'

Of course I grew up with the 'Vacation' movie with the legendary Anthony Michael Hall.

In my work, I'm always striving to be as honest as possible.

I've always been the opposite of mainstream. I march to my own beat. It's the only way I know.

The thing is, I want to play real characters and not all girls can be pretty. The thing is, you get these girls who say 'I'm a character actor' then you see them in a role and nothing has really changed but the outfit.

I've always been an outsider. I've always been attracted to roles that would challenge me and that wouldn't come around very often.

Any time you start judging with an overly critical eye rather than letting things just be, and following what you think is right, it's complicated to find balance.

We've played everywhere since I started The Licks. We've played arenas, clubs, school cafeterias and bowling alleys. It doesn't matter where the venue is; we're gonna bring you the rock!

In movies like 'Cape Fear,' I never played verbal characters. Now, as a grown-up, I relish playing people that are not like myself. That's what I enjoy about acting.

Success is a nice by-product but what I really want is work.

When I do a film, usually I work from my director. That's my boss. The director is interpreting the writer's vision, and we all interpret it, and they create their own vision as well.

I've never been like Angelina Jolie, who at one time was spewing out this prototype Bad Girl stuff for people to consume. I've never boxed myself in that way. People can create boxes for me by all means, but it doesn't mean I'm going to step inside them.

I recommend everyone wakes up in the morning to Bachman Turner Overdrive's 'Taking Care Or Business' - you'll feel better.

I'm always fighting the cup-is-half-empty way of being, versus the cup-is-half-full. I'm always fighting the pessimistic versus the positive.

Musically, I wear many hats. I'm the social media director. I conceptualise the videos, write the songs, do the press. I'm not a major label act.

Understanding human nature. Perception. That's how I see acting - perception and communication.

Whatever I do, I'm always struggling to create a visceral experience. With my music, I'm more of a live performer these days. And film is such a different thing. It's where people sit in a dark theater. I want them to feel me as viscerally as if they were at a live show.

I experience so many feelings and emotions when I tour. It's the most amazing and also the most lonely thing you can do.