Happy Birthday

Turning 60 Today: Viola Davis

festreviews Happy Birthday

QUOTES:

We grew up in abject poverty. Acting, writing scripts and skits were a way of escaping our environment at a very young age.

[on why she’s not inspired to direct] I can’t deal with actors! I can’t deal with myself. We’re neurotic and miserable… I love doing what I’m doing, but while I’m doing it, I’m miserable.

The thing about the African-American community compared with the white community is, we are more concerned with image and message than execution. I don’t play roles that are necessarily attractive or portray a positive image. They are well-rounded characters. When you squelch excellence to put out a message it’s like passing the baton and seeing it drop.

[on roles for African-American actresses] You’re not doing the Irish and Scottish accents they taught at Juilliard. In the real world you’re doing Ebonics and Jamaican.

Turning 42 Today: Chris Hemsworth

festreviews Happy Birthday

QUOTES:

I love the adventure that comes with this work, the travel and all that. But also the craft, the storytelling. From a kid, I remember enjoying certain books and getting swept away in movies.

[on life in the Australian Outback] It’s beautiful up there in the Northern Territory. My earliest memories are of buffalo and crocodiles. As a kid, you don’t own a pair of shoes because it’s too hot!

Everything shifted for me after Rush (2013). It wasn’t as financially successful as other things I’d done, but it gave me more movement, more options, more doors opening, more meetings. All of a sudden, it’s “Oh, wow! You’re an actor!”.

I remember how differently people treated me when things went well. Some directors and producers who never gave a shit – at best, they would have given me a sideways glance – next time I saw them, they’re my best friend. That’s gross.

Turning 54 Today: Justin Theroux

festreviews Happy Birthday

QUOTES:

If I was roped into a seven-year TV contract I’d probably hang myself. It’s a TV show – selling cars, cereal, soda pop. TV is like that. The shows are incidental to the commercials. I always laugh when TV shows pat themselves on the back for being cutting-edge. I mean, an interracial kiss on Ally McBeal (1997) is cutting-edge? I’ve never been shocked by anything on television, except the news.

I didn’t have a lot of ambition, which I think was a good thing. I was ambitious about quality, but I wasn’t ambitious in the “I’ve got to get a pilot!” way.

It’s like, once you’ve seen Tom Hanks win the Golden Globes, the Oscars, you’ve seen his wife, what kind of car he drives, when you watch his movies, you can’t fully get really lost in them.



Turning 65 Today: Antonio Banderas

festreviews Happy Birthday

QUOTES:

I hate that cat [“Puss in Boots” from Shrek 2 (2004)]. Ever since he appeared in my life he’s more important than me. Now women always say, “Oh, I love that cat. He’s so cute”. Before, it was, “I loved you in [The Mask of Zorro (1998)]. And sometimes you think, “Is she saying that because she has some other… intention?” But no. They love the cat, and they hate me.

To be married in our profession is not an easy thing. There’s too many beautiful people around, very interesting people. It’s just a matter of really having-being patient and probably having the capacity and the faith of falling in love with your own wife again. That happens to me.

I don’t want anything I don’t deserve, [but] if they offer me more money, I’m not stupid.

Turning 46 Today: JoAnna Garcia Swisher

festreviews Happy Birthday

QUOTES:

I’ve made my share of mistakes, but had the good fortune to have them not be so public.

I kind of live a private life. I am out a lot, I have amazing friends and see a lot, so it’s not like I’m a hermit. But I just know what I do for a living and that there are certain sensitivities.

I definitely am afraid of the dark. Somehow, in my mind I can always come up with some horrific stuff to worry about.

Turning 53 Today: Angie Harmon

festreviews Happy Birthday

QUOTES’

[on her character’s voluptuousness in Agent Cody Banks (2003)] We had so much stuff in there: shoulder pads and things that look like chicken cutlets. It’s not The Hours (2002), I know – I had prosthetic boobs instead of a prosthetic nose.

I’m half Greek and half American Indian, so my dermatologist told me I’ll never age.

When I feel like I’m not doing what I’m supposed to do as a mother, I torture myself. I find some consolation in the fact that all mommies feel it. If there was a way to cure mommy guilt, I would bottle it and be a bazillionaire

You’re not pretty on the outside unless you’re pretty on the inside.

Turning 57 Today: Eric Bana

festreviews Happy Birthday

QUOTES:

I wanted to be a mechanic. When I was 14, I wanted to quit school and go work on my car. But my dad said, “Son, you shouldn’t do that. You should stay in school until your education is finished, and when you’re done, don’t make your hobby your job.”.

I race historic muscle cars back in Australia. And I try to race home as soon as I’m finished a movie but don’t tell anyone.

I could become characters and to me that’s what acting was – I didn’t want to shroud it in mystery.