William H. Macy Character Quotations

I'm a firm believer that character is highly overrated. Character is a trick that we do with the audience's collusion.

If I like the story and it's well written, and it's a character I want to play and they'll pay me, then I decide to do it.

I'm not much of a preparer. I think sometimes as an actor you need to go out and learn some skills, but in terms of preparation for understanding the character, it's all on the page, and if it's not on the page, you're in trouble.

It sure is boring to be around people who are in character all the time. I always find it's closer to mental illness than acting excellence.

The character and the actor in a long-running series slowly become one. I think there must be funny stories about actors who, in the pilot for a TV series, did some weird thing with their eyes, or some speech impediment or something, and the next thing you know, it's eight years later, and they're still doing that freaking gag.

I do want to do TV, but I'm looking to be a creator, writer, and producer, and perhaps I could be a recurring character. Do 10 shows a year, something like that.