24 Cuba Gooding, Jr. Quotes for You to Enjoy

Cuba Gooding, Jr.

American Actor

Born: Jan 2, 1968

Actor Director Me People Think You

Related authors: Bruce Lee Clint Eastwood Kevin Hart Mr. T Orson Welles Shia LaBeouf Tom Hanks Will Rogers

It's a director's job to tell a story and he's very well versed in telling stories with a bit of comedy in them and keeping the pace of the movie right and that's exactly what he did. He was observant of a world he didn't understand but he told a wonderful story. Cuba Gooding, Jr.

Director Wonderful World Comedy Job Bit Tell Telling Exactly Exactly What Observant He Well Understand Versed Very Did Movie Stories Pace Story Them Keeping Right

I remember when Heath Ledger talked about playing the Joker... I always used to look out of the side of my eye, going, 'Yeah, actors.' But there really is a darkness when you are playing someone psychotic - you have to go there mentally. Cuba Gooding, Jr.

You Darkness Remember Side Eye Out I Remember About Someone Mentally Joker Remember When Look Talked Always Yeah Go Heath Going Psychotic Really Used Actor Playing

I've been given that gift of working with Jack Nicholson and James Coburn and certain people who just out of nowhere break into stories - talking about working with Alfred Hitchcock or Kubrick. That's my real reward of my career. Cuba Gooding, Jr.

People Gift Reward Alfred Hitchcock Out About Given Talking Real Kubrick Been Jack Jack Nicholson Hitchcock Just James Stories Break Certain Working Who Nicholson Nowhere Career

Before I was an actor I was a break dancer, one of those street performers you see. I guess my introduction into the professional world of performing was a stint as back up dancer for Lionel Richie and I performed at the closing ceremony at the '84 Olympics. Cuba Gooding, Jr.

You World Before Guess Back Dancer Back Up Those Introduction See Performed Performers Performing Up Lionel Closing Break Ceremony Richie Professional Actor Street Olympics

I was in the wilderness of Hollywood for almost ten years. I was off the studio lists. I wasn't getting the roles offered to actors that hadn't done a third of the roles I had done or had the popularity I had. Cuba Gooding, Jr.

Wilderness Ten Ten Years Had Studio Almost Years Off Offered Roles Done Getting Lists Hollywood Popularity Actor Third

When I won the Oscar, I fell into that mind-set that this is a precious role. People everywhere were shouting, 'Show me the money!' I just didn't want anything that could parody the fact that I was like a tagline in a movie. So when Steven Spielberg offered me 'Amistad,' I said no; when 'Hotel Rwanda' came along, I said no. Cuba Gooding, Jr.

Me People Money Mind-Set Everywhere Spielberg Fact Could Parody Hotel Along Like Fell Steven Steven Spielberg Said Came Were Rwanda Won Offered Precious Role Just Want Movie Anything Shouting Show Oscar

As an actor you have to bring to the table your creative input. But when a director like Ridley Scott says I want you to do this this way, you know when he gets to the editing room he has a reason for it. It's like watching a masterpiece. Cuba Gooding, Jr.

You Director Creative Editing Way Input Says Table I Want You He Like Know Masterpiece Editing Room Scott Gets Want Room Your Reason Creative Input Ridley Scott Actor Bring Watching

The hardest part was when I was in high school not having a job and always being broke. I had to get to auditions without a car. I either took the bus or walked. Cuba Gooding, Jr.

I'm not a prude. On the set, they called me 'Butt Naked.' Cuba Gooding, Jr.

Me Naked Prude Butt Set

It wears on your soul when you take on the mental state of a dark character. Cuba Gooding, Jr.

Character You Soul Dark State Wears Mental Take Your

As an actor, when you're winning the moment over, there's a truth to your intention. You might laugh at it or you might cry at it, but I think your visceral reaction to it is a reaction to the truth of the moment. Cuba Gooding, Jr.

Truth You Think I Think Visceral Laugh Winning Over Cry Reaction Intention Might Your Moment Actor

Now, I have big-money offers on three movies, and I have director approval. That's kind of scary,' he says. 'No directors have been attached. That's a lot of pressure on me. Cuba Gooding, Jr.

Me Director Pressure Three Approval Says Kind Scary Attached Directors He Been Lot Offers Movies Now

When you're watching a movie and find yourself getting emotional, it's because you're bringing something personal to the images. It's the same thing with acting. You're bringing the essence of your core emotional being to that moment. Cuba Gooding, Jr.

I think all my characters haunt me. Especially the real-life ones, like Master Chief Carl Brashear, the Tuskagee Airmen. Every time I see a military person, it gives me such a sense of pride but also a sense of responsibility to project excellence when representing them. Cuba Gooding, Jr.

Time Me Pride Responsibility Master Sense Military Every Think Every Time Project I Think Airmen Characters See Haunt Gives Excellence Like Also Chief Person Representing Them

When you see my performances, even people that you might have known, like Nicky Barnes in 'American Gangster,' you have to get over the fact that I look like Cuba Gooding, Jr. But once you find truth in the performance, if I'm doing my job right, you believe everything. Cuba Gooding, Jr.

I feel I'm a hammer to the construction worker that is the filmmaker. Cuba Gooding, Jr.

Construction I Feel Feel Hammer Worker Filmmaker

There's a lack of diversity amongst executives in the position of greenlighting a film who feel that their stories are being told. If there's a diversity at the executive level, then we'll have diversity of the storytelling process. Cuba Gooding, Jr.

Diversity Feel Executive Executives Lack Being Stories Process Storytelling Then Who Film Amongst Level Position

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