Quotes About Admiration

I never call myself a singer, ever. I never will. I've always been really embarrassed about my voice. I've never been confident about it. I think it's a little bit better now than when I first started. There are people I admire who are genuinely brilliant singers and I know the difference between what they can do and what I can do.

I always liked Nat King Cole. I always wanted to go my own way, but I always favoured other singers like Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald - I loved Ella Fitzgerald. There are so many of them. Nina Simone was one of my favourites - Johnny Mathis.

My aspirations were never anything other than I really, really admired certain singers over the years, and I just wanted to do the best I could. And that has been kind of like the way I've been fortunate enough to be able to have a career, have some success, and yet continue to learn my craft.

I have so much respect for the big opera singers that I never dare to say I'm a singer.

As for singers, I'm fond of Mohit Chauhan.

You know, the funny thing was that I grew up listening to, like Whitney Houston and Cece Winans, and a lot of American singers.

I fell in love with the legend of Paul Robeson as a kid. My dad would tell me all these amazing stories about his life and, bizarrely, ended up singing to Robeson on his deathbed.

I love to listen to pop music and I admire people who do that, but I don't think I would ever be a very good pop star. I always leave that singing voice for the shower! I wouldn't put it out in the world!

I want every single person to like my work.

Paul Giamatti is truly one of my biggest inspirations, and even more so now that I've gotten to work with him. Every single thing he does, he completely transforms into it. When I watch a film with Paul in it, I'm not like, 'Oh, there's Paul.' I'm completely into whatever character he's in, and I'm not thinking about him as an actor.

Usually I get inspired by singles and not artists, but I love Macklemore.

I like the way Billy Idol sings. Mommy turned me on to him.

It would be Beyonce Knowles, because we are around the same age and I think she sings very, very well.

I got to meet Rachel Platten, who sings 'Fight Song,' I love that song.

Shirley Jackson enjoyed notoriety and commercial success within her lifetime, and yet it still hardly seems like enough for a writer so singular. When I meet readers and other writers of my generation, I find that mentioning her is like uttering a holy name.

On my wall, along with my favorite football players and baseball players, I had Marlon Brando and Sir Laurence Olivier. These were childhood idols.

Every time I meet Rahman sir, it's a fan moment for me. I don't take the fact that I am working with him lightly. I get excited every time I see and work with him. But I don't embarrass him.

Not many people know this but my team in England is Manchester United. Bobby Charlton, Denis Law, George Best, all great players. We created a bond when we played each other and I still speak to Bob from time to time, though I can't get used to calling him 'Sir Bobby.'

It's a great honour that someone like Sir Alex Ferguson goes out of his way to mention my name.

I was overwhelmed to see Salman Khan sir in real life!

I've seen almost all of Rajinikanth sir's movies, at least the ones that have come to Mumbai, since I don't understand Tamil. I loved him in the movie 'Hum' as well.

I saw Mani sir's 'Bombay,' and I wanted to be a Mani sir heroine.

He is really something. I love him. He is Sir Arsene Wenger.

It is such a treat to see two of my most favourite creative people in one frame - Rajamouli sir and Amitabh sir. They are so inspiring.