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Albert Finney Quotes

Powerful Albert Finney for Daily Growth

About Albert Finney

Albert Finney, OBE (May 9, 1936 – February 7, 2019), was a versatile and influential British actor, born in Salford, Lancashire, England. His charismatic performances and chameleon-like ability to adapt to various roles earned him three BAFTA Awards, an Emmy Award, and two Academy Award nominations over his illustrious career spanning more than five decades. Finney's interest in acting was ignited while attending Salford Grammar School, where he took part in school productions. He later studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, but dropped out after only two terms due to his growing film career. His big break came with Karel Reisz's film "Saturday Night and Sunday Morning" (1960), which showcased Finney's raw talent as a working-class hero and won him critical acclaim. Throughout the 1960s, Finney solidified his status as a leading man with roles in films such as "Tom Jones," for which he received his first Oscar nomination, and "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen." In the 1970s, he transitioned seamlessly into more character-driven roles, earning an Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of Hercule Poirot in Sidney Lumet's "Murder on the Orient Express" (1974). Finney continued to captivate audiences with a diverse range of roles, including the titular villain in "Scrooge" (1970), the troubled father in "Under the Volcano" (1984), and the aging magician in "Big Fish" (2003). Despite his numerous accolades, Finney remained humble and reserved about his talent, often deflecting attention away from himself. Albert Finney's impact on British cinema and acting as a whole cannot be overstated. His versatility, charisma, and dedication to his craft left an indelible mark on the film industry, inspiring generations of actors to come.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The older you get, the more you should play - it's the only thing you have left."

This quote by Albert Finney suggests that as one ages, it becomes increasingly important to engage in activities that bring joy and provide relaxation, often referred to as "play." The reasoning behind this is that material possessions and responsibilities may decrease with age, leaving only experiences and moments of enjoyment as valuable assets. Essentially, the quote encourages us to find time for leisure and fun throughout our lives, especially as we grow older.

"I don't know if I've ever regretted anything because I believe in seizing the moment."

This quote by Albert Finney emphasizes the importance of living in the present, making the most of each moment, and not dwelling on regrets. It encourages people to actively engage with life and opportunities as they come, rather than focusing on what might have been or what could have been done differently. Seizing the moment implies a proactive approach towards life, embracing experiences fully and without hindsight bias, which can often lead to personal growth and fulfillment.

"It's very hard to keep up a false front for any length of time."

Albert Finney's quote, "It's very hard to keep up a false front for any length of time," highlights the difficulty in maintaining a deceptive or insincere facade over an extended period. It suggests that eventually, genuine feelings, character, or actions will reveal themselves, as hiding one's true self is exhausting and unsustainable in the long run. The quote serves as a reminder to be authentic and embrace our true nature to achieve personal fulfillment and build meaningful relationships with others.

"The cinema is an extraordinary medium, you can express so much and make people think about things they might not have thought about before."

Albert Finney's quote emphasizes the unique power and potential of film as a medium for creative expression and thought-provoking discourse. He suggests that cinema has the ability to communicate profound ideas and inspire audiences to consider perspectives they may not have considered before, thereby broadening their understanding and fostering intellectual growth. This interpretation highlights both the artistry and impact of cinema as a tool for emotional, intellectual, and societal transformation.

"I've never been very good at sitting still."

Albert Finney's quote, "I've never been very good at sitting still," suggests a restless spirit or a strong desire for movement and activity. It indicates that he was not content with idleness or inactivity; instead, he thrived on engagement, exploration, and the pursuit of new experiences. This could be interpreted as a reflection of his zest for life and his natural inclination towards action and creativity.

I'm not bothered by the paparazzi and I don't feel hemmed in, I've never felt that. My youth, mind you, there wasn't quite the same attention to celebrities as there is now, but I've never felt that.

- Albert Finney

Mind, Felt, Celebrities, Paparazzi

Within two weeks of working with her, I realized how good she was for the role because she was absolutely with it and she has got terrific instincts, I think, as an artist, too.

- Albert Finney

Think, I Think, Weeks, Two Weeks

We meet before the movie and she gives you charts with sounds on them and makes a tape of examples. While they are setting up the scene, I go with her to the trailer and we go through the scene and correct the speech.

- Albert Finney

Through, Movie, Charts, Trailer

We're given the springboard of the text, a plane ticket, told to report to Alabama, and there's a group of people all ready to make a film and it's a marvelous life.

- Albert Finney

Ticket, Plane, Given, Report

My girlfriend and I rented a nice house on the river and I was there for about two and a half months, and we were just out of Alabama. I hardly got to see Alabama.

- Albert Finney

Alabama, Half, Months, Hardly

To be a character who feels a deep emotion, one must go into the memory's vault and mix in a sad memory from one's own life.

- Albert Finney

Deep, Memory, Feels, Mix

It's a marvellous life, a gregarious life that we've had. We're very lucky in that way. Unlike writers or painters, we don't sit down in front of a blank canvas and say, 'How do I start? Where do I start?'

- Albert Finney

Lucky, Very, Blank, Marvellous

I'm doing another Churchill. I did a Churchill for HBO and that was up to 1939 and there's talk of the war years. They were going to do it this fall, but the script wasn't going to be ready.

- Albert Finney

Doing, Going, Another, Churchill

I was in London. It's a long way to go for a very long party, sitting there for six hours not having a cigarette or a drink. It's a waste of time.

- Albert Finney

Waste, Hours, Very, Sitting

There might've been wires, but I have this ability to make myself light. Well you know what, in ballet, when you kind of lift yourself here, it's all up in the head.

- Albert Finney

Here, Been, Might, Wires

All we did in Alabama was have a read through with the script, but there was, 'No, well, it needs more. You've got to do this, Albert. You've got to do that, Jessica.' It didn't feel like that at all.

- Albert Finney

Through, Needs, Read, Jessica

I don't think that we necessarily lie. I mean, we make our living by pretending that we're someone else. I don't tell tall tales. I always tell the truth.

- Albert Finney

Think, Living, Always, Tales

When I read the script, I liked the script very much and I thought it was a marvelous part for her, because I think it is a change of pace. I mean, we know how wonderful she is in romantic comedy.

- Albert Finney

Think, I Think, Very, Marvelous

I think that one of Tim's great qualities and abilities is in what seems like a thumbnail sketch to get something quite telling, very simply, when you're doing it or being in that thumbnail sketch, you don't feel that it's important.

- Albert Finney

Doing, Very, Telling, Tim

I mean, I did a film, a musical of 'Scrooge', in '70, and the tricks were done by flat clothes and mirrors. I hope that the day will come when we don't have to turn up at all.

- Albert Finney

Will, Mirrors, Musical, Tricks

That is one of the reasons one enjoys acting. Now and again, you get scenes where you work with somebody really good and you have a good time trying to make it really work and really work well.

- Albert Finney

Work, Again, Reasons, Good Time

I don't enter, I'm entered. It's up to someone else. It's up to them.

- Albert Finney

Someone, Them, Else, Enter

I haven't seen the film yet because I just got in from London. In the scenes where the two characters are bantering with each other, it is like bobbing at the net in tennis.

- Albert Finney

London, Other, Like, Tennis

Well, I've always thought that my career was in England, really. I used to do more in the theatre, and I felt that I should be there. It's not far is it? It's amazing the way that special FX have taken a quantum leap in what they're capable of doing.

- Albert Finney

Thought, Career, Doing, Quantum

You come on as a guest. You don't get the girl anymore. But that is our lives. You start off as the boyfriend, then you are the lover, then you are the husband, then you are the father, and then you are the grandfather.

- Albert Finney

Lover, Boyfriend, Lives, Our Lives

I like playing accents, and doing things like that, it was fun. It was fun.

- Albert Finney

Doing, Like, Things, Accents

She goes on the set with headphones and gives you notes. She's terrific and I always run to her now, because she is just great to work with, as well as very good at different accents.

- Albert Finney

Always, Very, Set, Accents

I think that I'm busy in the present, and I don't want to go back. Well, there's been an unauthorized biography, and you can't stop them. It didn't worry me.

- Albert Finney

Worry, Think, Been, Biography

They have to exist or not in their own right. I mean, with kids, you don't say, 'Which is your favourite,' or 'Which did you enjoy bringing up the best?'

- Albert Finney

Enjoy, Own, Which, Favourite

My dad was great. He was very droll, very dry.

- Albert Finney

Great, Very, Dad, Dry

No, she is right up there with the best I've worked with. I was very impressed with her, I really was.

- Albert Finney

She, Her, Very, Worked

You just feel comfortable with him, and he certainly makes sure that you're comfortable. He makes sure that you feel good and that you're happy with what you're doing.

- Albert Finney

Doing, Sure, Certainly, Feel Good

She is up there with the best of them. I can only talk about my experience, but it was genuinely special.

- Albert Finney

Best, About, Them, Genuinely

He tells you stories, but then, after a while, when you want more, he doesn't give you more. He insists on this old elaboration, the old stories that never changes.

- Albert Finney

Give, More, Stories, Tells

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