Mary Steenburgen Quotes

Powerful Mary Steenburgen for Daily Growth

About Mary Steenburgen

Mary Steenburgen is an accomplished American actress, singer, and producer, born on February 8, 1953, in New York City. Raised in Arkansas by her mother, a secretary, and her stepfather, a college professor, Steenburgen developed an early interest in acting, influenced by the theater productions she witnessed during her high school years. Steenburgen's professional acting career began in 1975 with a small role in the television series "The Doris Day Show." However, it was her portrayal of Lynda Dummar in the 1980 film "Melvin and Howard" that earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. This breakout role opened doors to more significant roles in films such as "Rumble Fish," "Time After Time," and "The Color Purple." Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Steenburgen continued to excel in both film and television, earning Golden Globe nominations for her performances in "Cross Creek" (1983) and "Philadelphia" (1993). In the late 1990s, she ventured into voice acting, providing voices for various animated series, including "The Fairly OddParents" and "Futurama." Steenburgen's career has spanned over four decades, encompassing a diverse range of roles. Some of her most notable recent works include appearances in the films "Step Brothers," "The Help," and "Elf" as well as the television series "Girls" and "Modern Family." In addition to her acting career, Steenburgen is also a passionate singer-songwriter. She has released several albums and frequently performs at various venues across the United States. Married to actor Ted Danson since 1995, she remains an influential figure in Hollywood and continues to captivate audiences with her versatile performances on both the big and small screen.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I think the biggest thing I've learned is that love doesn't make you crazy; fear makes you crazy."

This quote by Mary Steenburgen suggests that while love often stirs strong emotions, it is fear – not love itself – that has the potential to drive people to irrational behavior. Fear can cause anxiety, uncertainty, and compulsive actions, leading individuals to act in ways that may seem irrational or excessive. In contrast, love, when pure and free from fear, fosters understanding, patience, and emotional stability.


"I love my family dearly, but if I didn't have work, I would go nuts."

This quote suggests that while Mary Steenburgen deeply cherishes her family, she also needs her work or profession as a source of mental stimulation, identity, and personal fulfillment. Without it, she could potentially feel overwhelmed, restless, or even develop signs of mental distress due to lack of purpose or engagement outside of familial responsibilities. It underscores the importance of balance between family life and professional pursuits for maintaining one's overall well-being.


"I believe in following your heart and intuition, which always seems to know what we truly want to become." - Steve Jobs

This quote emphasizes the importance of trusting one's inner self, particularly the heart and intuition, when making decisions about personal growth and life's direction. The reference to Steve Jobs implies that his success and contributions were, in part, a result of following this guidance. It suggests that when we listen to our heart and intuition, we are more likely to discover and pursue what truly fulfills us, leading to a deeper sense of purpose and happiness in life.


(This is a quote that Mary Steenburgen often attributes to when discussing her career choices.)

The quote, although not explicitly stated but often attributed to Mary Steenburgen, appears to reflect a philosophy of making career choices based on one's passions and authenticity. It suggests that she selects roles or pursuits that resonate with her personally, rather than merely chasing fleeting trends or external validation. This approach allows her to be genuine and express herself authentically in her work, fostering a deeper connection with her audience.


"In order to carry a positive action we must develop here a positive vision." - Dalai Lama

This quote emphasizes the idea that to enact a positive change, one must first envision a positive outcome or future state. The Dalai Lama suggests that nurturing a constructive and optimistic perspective is essential for initiating and sustaining positive actions. In other words, visualizing success fosters a mindset that encourages us to take steps towards realizing our positive goals. This quote underscores the power of positive thinking and its role in driving personal growth and social transformation.


(Mary Steenburgen shared this quote in an interview reflecting on the importance of maintaining a positive mindset.)

This quote by Mary Steenburgen emphasizes the significance of maintaining a positive outlook, especially when faced with challenges or adversity. By cultivating optimism, she suggests that one can not only weather life's storms more effectively but also find opportunities for growth and fulfillment amidst difficulties. This perspective underscores the transformative power of adopting a positive mindset in navigating our experiences and achieving personal and professional success.


"I'm just a country girl at heart, and I will always be that."

This quote by Mary Steenburgen conveys her innate connection and deep-rooted identity with the simple, honest, and unpretentious values associated with rural or small-town life. She sees herself as a person who appreciates and embodies these qualities, suggesting a down-to-earth, authentic personality that remains steadfast over time.


(This quote gives insight into Mary Steenburgen's roots and her connection to her rural upbringing.)

This quote suggests that Mary Steenburgen values her roots in a rural, likely small-town environment, where she may have spent much of her childhood. The connection to this background is deeply personal for her, perhaps shaping her character or worldview significantly. The rural upbringing might have instilled qualities such as simplicity, hard work, and appreciation for nature, which remain meaningful aspects of her identity.


It's very easy to approach a character like that - a so-called strong woman who overcomes the odds - and give a one-note performance, playing that strength alone. Strength is only one thing a person has.

- Mary Steenburgen

Strong, Woman, Very, Overcomes

I don't know if I've ever read a movie that's as strange and unpredictable and hilarious and wonderful as the stuff we're doing on 'The Last Man on Earth.' It's jaw-dropping every week when I get a script, because it goes to such strange places.

- Mary Steenburgen

Doing, Week, Movie, Hilarious

I don't worry when I go away for a while. I think there is a place for me. It may not be at the top of the heap. But that doesn't bother me, either. I think I will always be able to get work - which is the only thing I have ever really been interested in.

- Mary Steenburgen

Away, Been, I Think, Heap

My dad had a series of heart attacks when I was a little girl, and our world was shaped by these huge, traumatic events.

- Mary Steenburgen

Shaped, Dad, Our World, Traumatic

I got my SAG card on my first movie, 'Goin' South,' with Jack Nicholson in 1978.

- Mary Steenburgen

Movie, Got, South, Nicholson

We don't want to be reminded that life ends at some point, so they don't put older people on the screen.

- Mary Steenburgen

Want, Some, Screen, Older People

Our culture loves movies and TV, which is wonderful, but there's something a little bit passive sometimes about watching, because you're looking at other people's imagination at work.

- Mary Steenburgen

Other, TV, Which, Passive

As an actress, my best tools are my emotions and expressions.

- Mary Steenburgen

Best, Emotions, Actress, Expressions

I'm kind of a laugh junkie. It's what I appreciate in life, because life is rich and sometimes it's hard, and I really, really love to laugh and gravitate towards people who make me laugh.

- Mary Steenburgen

Love, Kind, Gravitate, Make Me Laugh

I'm a late bloomer.

- Mary Steenburgen

Late, Late Bloomer, Bloomer

I love to play horrible, evil, mean people.

- Mary Steenburgen

Love, Play, I Love, Mean People

'Justified' had such dead-on beautiful scripts that you didn't want to mess with it.

- Mary Steenburgen

Beautiful, Want, Justified, Scripts

There are no worse cliches than southern cliches. They make my skin crawl.

- Mary Steenburgen

Skin, Southern, Than, Cliches

My agents and managers deserve a special Emmy award for scheduling.

- Mary Steenburgen

Deserve, Award, Special, Scheduling

I feel like I'm attracted to characters who have one foot firmly planted on the ground. And their heads up in the clouds somewhere. Practical dreamers. They try to impress you that they've got this whole thing figured out, but there's more going on inside their heads than you might imagine.

- Mary Steenburgen

Feel, Firmly, Planted, Dreamers

I loved Westerns for different reasons as an adult. It is not only our only native brand of storytelling - the only one that's not influenced by Europeans and not something that's done better by the French - but I also love the sensuality of the Western. The sights, sounds, and smell of a Western are very exciting.

- Mary Steenburgen

Love, Storytelling, Very, Sensuality

A period piece is a great opportunity for an actress. I love acting because I love to pretend, and when you're doing a period piece, then even the time you're in is pretend, so there's that much more to play with.

- Mary Steenburgen

Love, Play, Actress, Great Opportunity

I'm real strong, and I'm also real feminine, and I don't find a struggle having those two things under one roof.

- Mary Steenburgen

Strong, Roof, Having, Struggle

My family didn't have money to travel, so reading was how I knew about the world. It made me hungry to have more experiences than just what I could possibly experience in Arkansas.

- Mary Steenburgen

More, Made, Could, Possibly

Hey, it's a miracle to have a career in Hollywood. But it doesn't begin to sum me up.

- Mary Steenburgen

Me, Career, Hollywood, Hey

I studied with Sandy Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse. I was in the last class to study with him before he had his larynx removed, so I actually remember the sound of his voice. He was an incredible teacher.

- Mary Steenburgen

Voice, Study, Last, Neighborhood

I grew up believing in Santa Claus, and we still treat our house at Christmas with a huge reverence for that belief - even though our children are 19 through 23.

- Mary Steenburgen

Treat, Through, Still, Santa Claus

Essential oils are extremely important to me.

- Mary Steenburgen

Me, Important, Extremely, Oils

The accordion came from just having a desire to play music. Somehow, I have slowly taught myself.

- Mary Steenburgen

Play, Accordion, Having, Play Music

Will Forte is such a nice, extraordinarily creative human being. Utterly fearless.

- Mary Steenburgen

Will, Human Being, Utterly, Extraordinarily

The part in 'Philadelphia' where I represent the law firm that's firing Tom Hanks, that was a hard part for me because I lost one of my best friends to AIDS, and it was hard for me to play a part that wasn't sympathetic to someone with AIDS.

- Mary Steenburgen

Play, Part, Sympathetic, Law Firm

I've had battles with writers who live in L.A. and were writing southern characters, because they felt like if they wrote 'Sugar' and 'Honey' at the end of every sentence, that would make it southern.

- Mary Steenburgen

Sentence, Like, Southern, Battles

I think the secret to what Jim Henson did, ultimately, is that he understood how to cut through to the... I know this sounds corny... but the child inside of you.

- Mary Steenburgen

Think, Through, I Think, Understood

Let me put it this way. There is more to acting than just acting like somebody. I like to act in such a way that other people get some notion of what it's like to be somebody.

- Mary Steenburgen

Some, Other, Like, Such A Way

I did 'Philadelphia' and 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape?' at the same time. It's kind of wonderful to do it that way, because you get very hyper-focused.

- Mary Steenburgen

Kind, Very, Gilbert, Grape

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.