Eliza Coupe Quotes

Powerful Eliza Coupe for Daily Growth

About Eliza Coupe

Eliza Coupe is an accomplished American actress, writer, and producer known for her comedic roles in various television series. Born on May 6, 1981, in Ashland, Oregon, Coupe moved to New York City after graduating from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she studied theater. Her acting career began with off-Broadway productions and small roles in films such as "A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints" (2006) and "Accepted" (2006). However, it was her role as Jane Kerkovich-Williams on the critically acclaimed sitcom "Happy Endings" (2011-2013) that catapulted Coupe into the mainstream. Her performance earned her a Critics' Choice Television Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Coupe's other notable television roles include Lisa Miller on "Community" (2012-2013), Denise Mahoney on "Future Man" (2017-2019), and most recently, Katie McCoy on "Benched" (2014-2015). She has also made appearances in shows like "Arrested Development," "The Mindy Project," and "Modern Family." In addition to her acting career, Coupe co-created and executive produced the animated series "High School USA!" for IFC. She is also a writer, with credits including "Benched" and the web series "Barely Famous." Coupe's work often showcases her comedic prowess and unique, relatable characters that resonate with audiences. Her career continues to evolve as she takes on new roles and ventures in the entertainment industry. When not working, Coupe enjoys spending time with her husband, actor and writer Randall Houser, and their two children.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I'm an assertive woman, not a bitch."

This quote highlights the distinction Eliza Coupe draws between assertiveness and being perceived as aggressive or difficult (often pejoratively labeled as "bitch"). She suggests that her assertive demeanor does not come from a place of negativity or abrasiveness, but rather from a place of confidence and self-assuredness. The quote serves to empower women by encouraging them to express themselves confidently without fearing being judged or stereotyped based on outdated gender norms.


"My dad always told me, 'If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a really good story.'"

The quote emphasizes that while it's ideal to be a role model, life isn't always perfect. If one cannot live by the best example, they should make up for it by having an interesting, valuable story to share - one that offers lessons or inspiration to others. It suggests a mindset of learning from mistakes and finding meaning in experiences, which can foster resilience and personal growth.


"You know, I've come to realize that people will believe whatever they want about you. No matter what you say or do, they're going to put you in their little box."

This quote suggests that individuals have a tendency to categorize others based on preconceived notions or biases, rather than accepting them for who they truly are. Regardless of one's actions or words, people will often persist in pigeonholing them into familiar, albeit potentially inaccurate, boxes. This can lead to misunderstandings and stereotypes that may hinder genuine connections between individuals.


"I feel like sometimes life is just a series of tiny failures leading up to one big success."

This quote encapsulates the universal experience of setbacks and challenges in pursuit of long-term goals or personal growth. It suggests that the small, seemingly insignificant missteps and disappointments along our journey are essential learning experiences, shaping us into who we become and ultimately leading to a significant achievement or breakthrough. In essence, it's a reminder that persistence and resilience in the face of adversity can lead to eventual success.


"There are two kinds of people in this world: people who believe that you can change your own destiny and people who don't. And the ones who do, they always seem to be having more fun."

This quote suggests that there are essentially two mindsets or attitudes towards life: those who believe they have the power to shape their own future (proactive) and those who view their fate as predetermined (reactive). The quote implies that individuals who take control of their destiny, who believe in their ability to change it, tend to lead more fulfilling lives with a greater sense of enjoyment. This is because they are actively engaged in shaping their own experiences and outcomes.


I was on a show called '12 Miles of Bad Road' with Lily Tomlin - it was an incredible HBO show. We shot 6 episodes, previewed it before the finale of 'The Sopranos;' it was written up as a 'Great New Show on HBO,' and then the whole thing was canned. Gone. Disappeared. That's when I realized anything can happen in this business.

- Eliza Coupe

Bad, Show, Before, Canned

I still have a crush on Johnny Depp, and I literally only started dating my husband because he looked like Johnny Depp - and he knows that. We've been together for twelve years, and he still looks like Johnny Depp.

- Eliza Coupe

Been, Still, Looked, None

I definitely want to do more movies, and I'm also a writer, so I have a few screenplays that I'm working on, one of them based off my one-woman show that I used to do in New York. Two of the screenplays I've written by myself, and then I'm also working on one with my writing partner, Tom Riley, who's in London.

- Eliza Coupe

London, Used, Show, Screenplays

It's so funny, because when I was growing up in a small town in New Hampshire, I was obsessed with Leonardo DiCaprio - from the 'Growing Pains'/'What's Eating Gilbert Grape' era, because he was superhot - and I carried a laminated photo of him in my wallet and said he was my boyfriend. But no one believed me.

- Eliza Coupe

Small, Boyfriend, Hampshire, Believed

I was trained classically, and that's something that I want to do, but I do want to say that right now it's a good market for female comedians, and I want to explore that right now. I really do want to do dramas and meatier roles, especially film.

- Eliza Coupe

Explore, Want, Trained, Dramas

Kids kill a show! It's, like, a fun concept when the character is pregnant, but then if a show runs for a while, I'm sorry, but it gets annoying when it starts to talk. You get a child actor in there, and unless that child actor is freakin' awesome, it's going to be annoying.

- Eliza Coupe

Show, Concept, While, Runs

When I did 'Scrubs', we were able to always do one as scripted, and then we got to play a little bit and do some stuff. I thought that was pretty loose, but then coming on 'Happy Endings,' it's even looser.

- Eliza Coupe

Thought, Play, Some, Endings

I'd say I'm a pretty intense person. I'm definitely not my Denise character on 'Scrubs,' nor my Jane character on 'Happy Endings,' but I'm a mix of the two. I really feel that I'm kind of every character that I've ever played; it's just a part of me. And I am a bit of a control freak like Jane. I'm very, perhaps, obsessive like that.

- Eliza Coupe

Happy, Part, Very, Endings

If I'm not clear with the character, I can't do anything with it. But once I get that character, the possibilities are endless. When you have such a defined character, I feel like I can actually read the phone book and make it funny.

- Eliza Coupe

Book, Possibilities, Feel, Defined

I don't want anyone to get seriously hurt. But I do watch awards shows to critique the clothes while I sit around eating chips in my sweat pants and in hopes of seeing some hilarious accidental nudity.

- Eliza Coupe

Chips, Some, Pants, Accidental

I try to be optimistic, but in this business it's so hard. The craziest stuff can happen.

- Eliza Coupe

Business, Happen, Optimistic, Craziest

When you're walking around in Shanghai, I called it the City of Near Misses, because they do not stop for pedestrians. And the pedestrians do not have the right of way. It's those little things that no one tells you.

- Eliza Coupe

Little Things, City, Right, Misses

I made sure that instead of people making fun of me, like every comedian probably says, I made fun of myself first so they would get distracted and just laugh. I was pretty brutally picked on for a while growing up. It was always the really pretty girls, the hot girls and then there was me. So I had to do something to get any sort of attention.

- Eliza Coupe

Hot, Had, While, Brutally

If you have a strong sense of who you are and what you're doing, then it's actually easier to work with other people, because you don't have to worry about them or yourself. You're just worrying about getting the best product, and all that other stuff is out of the way.

- Eliza Coupe

Strong, Doing, Other, Strong Sense

I used to play the piano by listening to it - like Chopin pieces, when I was, like, a little kid - and then the minute my parents got me lessons to read music, I couldn't do it anymore.

- Eliza Coupe

Listening, Play, Read, Lessons

I've been recognized a couple times. I get people staring at me, and I think in their heads they're thinking, 'How do I know her? Did I go to high school with her?' I think it's not registering yet.

- Eliza Coupe

Been, I Think, Couple, Staring

I was the female lead in a romantic comedy. It's a little indie film that we shot in China called 'America Town,' starring Daniel Henney and Bill Paxton. I actually had to speak Chinese in the film. It was funny because I found out I was doing the film and then a week later, I was in Shanghai.

- Eliza Coupe

Doing, Week, Indie, Daniel

You can't improv off of bad writing. Then you have to actually create your objective, which is really hard to do in an element without the skeleton to go off of.

- Eliza Coupe

Bad, Go, Which, Element

In college, I went to school for acting; we had to learn phonetics just to be able to do dialects and all that stuff. I'm somebody who does better just hearing it. I'll just imitate it, and I get it better that way. When I know too much information, I'm not great.

- Eliza Coupe

College, Had, Dialects, Hearing

I do have a nickname with my family; I'm called Snappy, because I do get to be a bit snippy at times. They call me Snappy Bear. That's from New Hampshire. My dad's called Crazy, my mother's Happy - it's a whole thing.

- Eliza Coupe

Happy, Hampshire, Dad, Nickname

I cannot feel my legs from the waist down any longer. But who cares? I look good and that's all that matters. And when I die of hypothermia for wearing formal shorts in winter, tell them to put that on my tombstone.

- Eliza Coupe

Die, Feel, Tell, Waist

There's such an odd, eclectic group of people that make up the town of Plymouth, New Hampshire. I don't think I could avoid not coming out of there with a pretty good sense of humor.

- Eliza Coupe

Sense Of Humor, Hampshire, Odd

My hands are huge. When I was on 'Scrubs,' Zach Braff used to make fun of them all the time. And now I made some list. I guess Jennifer Garner is on the top of the list for best hands and I'm fourth down. But that's for people who really like an NBA star's hands.

- Eliza Coupe

Hands, Some, Jennifer, Scrub

I was very disruptive. I was horrible. I didn't learn like all the other kids. I had to sometimes take my tests out in the hallways because I couldn't focus. But, my teachers would come see me in the plays and were like 'I don't understand how you can focus and be in the moment in a play and you go into math class and you can't focus.'

- Eliza Coupe

Play, Other, Very, Disruptive

I think the writers of 'Community' have moved on from my character. I'm pretty sure. I would love to go back on. I had a really good time and I really liked that character, but I don't think it's going to happen.

- Eliza Coupe

Love, I Think, Moved, Good Time

I wish I knew that when I go in for an audition and I don't get the part, it actually doesn't have to do with me on a personal level.

- Eliza Coupe

I Wish, Level, Audition, Personal Level

I would love to do a dramatic comedy. All of that, it all interests me. At some point I want to do my 'Monster,' like Charlize Theron, so I'm buckling up for that.

- Eliza Coupe

Love, Some, Like, Interests

My dad actually taught me to box when I was, like, nine years old, because I got picked on at school all of the time. I was on a boys' hockey team, so I would get all of my aggression out there.

- Eliza Coupe

Box, Nine, Dad, Aggression

I'm always working out; I did ice hockey in high school, but I'm not a dance person. I mean, this was horrible, but I had a dance double in my high-school musical.

- Eliza Coupe

Hockey, Always, Musical, High-School

My older brother always tells me I changed as a person when I saw 'Ace Ventura.' Because when I saw 'Ace Ventura', I became obsessed. I watched the movie as many times as I had to - back then, you couldn't go on the Internet and find the script - so I watched it as many times as I could to write my own script of 'Ace Ventura.'

- Eliza Coupe

Movie, Older Brother, Became, Ace

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