Quotes About Casting

I get offered a lot of black roles, because apparently I don't look Latino enough.

I get offered a lot of parts where I want to say, 'Why don't you just hire a model? Don't hire an actor.' I'm trying to convince people I'm a real actor, not some mannequin.

It's harder in the States. I'm much more inclined to get offered things that are a lot straighter and heavier and dramatic. And they go by looks, too. If you look like a leading man, then that's what they will consider you for.

I've always wanted to play a normal woman, and I think I have been offered these parts where I play a kook because I'm not the idea of what a normal woman is.

It's funny because I was offered film parts the first week after 'The Office' went out. I was sent a script, and I said, 'Who's the lead?' They said, 'We want you to be.' And I said: 'Well, who's going to go and see that? You want John Cusack.'

Actors are at the mercy of roles that are offered.

In the industry, once people see you in a certain mold, you start getting offered only those kind of roles.

The characters I usually get offered are described as 'none too bright' or 'funny but a little air-brained.'

When I first moved to New York, I had some colleagues who said I should be my straightest self - whatever that means - when I went into casting offices, but I didn't want to put on an act of what I thought was heterosexual. I just wanted to be myself, and I'm very grateful because I feel like I've been embraced for that.

I remember calling directors numerous times and saying, 'Oh, you should cast so-and-so instead of me. They're much better for the role.'

I don't colour my hair, and I look like the back end of a bus, so I get asked to play old people.

There are some older women out there who are just knockouts, real beauties, and they're not getting the roles they should.

I was looking for playing something positive on-screen, but I'm often offered roles that are either negative or grey.

One of the things I learned very early on is you need to cast the kids for the characters you want them to play. They need to be who they are, right? If you want a loud, boisterous kid character, you need to find that kid.

I have a responsibility to diversity onstage, but one of the things I've heard about our production of 'Boys' is that it's a bunch of white guys. Well, race is a component of this play. You can't just drop people in willy-nilly and say, 'Well, we're going for diversity.'

We try to stay as open-minded about casting as possible. When you're getting things down on paper, you might even avoid writing down a name, let alone if they have blonde hair or this or that, to stop.

How will I become Meryl Streep if I can't even get in the door with Jennifer Lawrence for the same role? I think that it starts with casting directors and executives and studio heads opening up their minds, and really putting an effort into being trans inclusive in their projects, whether they're trans-specific or not.

Theater will cast in a more open way; Denzel Washington might play Richard III. Television and film don't really cast openly like that. The theater world has always been a leader in diversity.

Petition: Casting Your Cares on Him

I can really stir up a conversation. Every time I go to a meeting or a casting, I try to make it as light and funny as I can. I'm always making really awkward jokes. You have to make life fun and not take it too seriously. I may look like I'm very serious and into my work, but if you knew me, I'm just a jokester.

When I first met my agent, I said, "If something comes up and it fits my age range and personality, I would like you to send me up for it, even if it specifies blonde or brunette."

I always looked really young for my age. And once I hit 23, 24 and 25, I was then allowed to play the cool 18-year-olds and stuff.

It bugs me when they have people my age [28] playing teenagers.

I'm pretty sure a lot of directors would be thrilled to cast age appropriate roles. I am.