Richard Griffiths Quotes

Powerful Richard Griffiths for Daily Growth

About Richard Griffiths

Richard Griffiths (1947-2013) was an eminent British actor and playwright who left an indelible mark on both stage and screen with his versatile performances and witty scriptwriting. Born in Coventry, England on March 31, 1947, Griffiths developed a passion for acting from an early age. He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and began his professional career in the mid-1960s, making his West End debut in 1968 in "Hedda Gabler." Griffiths' breakthrough role came in 1974 when he played Alfred P. Doolittle in a Royal National Theatre production of George Bernard Shaw's "Pygmalion," which led to his first major film role as the same character in the 1964 film adaptation, "My Fair Lady." Throughout his career, Griffiths worked extensively with some of the UK's most prominent theater companies, including the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre. In addition to his acting, Griffiths was also a prolific playwright, with his first play, "Coming Home," being produced in 1978. His later works include "The History of the Liverpool Walpurgis Night" and "The Cinder Path." Griffiths' film career spanned over four decades, with notable performances in "Withnail and I," "The Missionary," "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," and as Vernon Dursley in the Harry Potter films. His portrayal of Uncle Monty in "Withnail and I" earned him a British Academy Film Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Griffiths' influence extended beyond his acting and writing, as he was also a dedicated teacher at RADA and the Central School of Speech and Drama. He passed away on March 28, 2013, leaving behind an extensive body of work that continues to inspire generations of actors and playwrights.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"One must maintain a discreet and tactful silence on all topics relating to one's own talents."

This quote by Richard Griffiths suggests that it is important for individuals, especially those with notable abilities or skills, to maintain humility and avoid boasting about their own talents. He implies that discretion and tact are key in discussions about personal achievements, as they foster a more pleasant and respectful environment, encouraging others to appreciate and celebrate the qualities in themselves and others without resorting to self-aggrandizement.


"Acting is just a way of making a living, a very interesting way. Some people collect stamps, I collect roles and experiences."

This quote highlights that for actor Richard Griffiths, acting serves as a means to earn a livelihood, but it's not merely a job; rather, it is a unique and fascinating career. Like a stamp collector gathers stamps, he collects roles and experiences – each one adding to his personal growth and artistic repertoire. This quote suggests that, for him, the joy of acting lies not only in the final performance but also in the journey of learning and transformation through each character he embodies.


"I don't think I could be an actor if it wasn't for the joy of acting itself. The rewards are few and far between."

This quote by Richard Griffiths suggests that his motivation as an actor is primarily derived from the intrinsic joy he finds in the act of performing, rather than external rewards such as fame or financial gain. He acknowledges that these rewards are often scarce, emphasizing the importance of passion and love for one's craft in a profession that can be demanding and unpredictable.


"There is no such thing as normal life. There is only life."

The quote by Richard Griffiths, "There is no such thing as normal life. There is only life," emphasizes that every individual's experiences and circumstances are unique. It suggests that the concept of a 'normal' life doesn't exist because everyone has their own set of challenges, joys, trials, and triumphs. Life, in its rawest form, is diverse and unpredictable. This quote invites us to embrace our individuality and celebrate our unique journeys rather than comparing ourselves to others or striving for an unattainable 'normal'.


"The truth is, you never know what's going to happen. That's the beauty and terror of it all."

This quote by Richard Griffiths beautifully encapsulates the delicate balance between hope and uncertainty that defines human existence. It suggests that life, with its myriad possibilities, holds a unique charm and excitement in its unpredictability - the "beauty" of not knowing what lies ahead. At the same time, it acknowledges the anxiety or fear ("terror") associated with the unknown, as we grapple with making sense of our surroundings and future events. Essentially, Griffiths reminds us that life is a dance between embracing possibilities and navigating the unknown, which forms the essence of the human experience.


Broadway has the most savvy audience anywhere. They see everything and they know their theater. As sophisticated and subtle as you think you can be, the houses you get here will want something finer.

- Richard Griffiths

Think, Audience, Here, Sophisticated

I went from being a beanpole - like a normal kid of the 1950s - and exploded. The weight piled on and didn't stop until into my adulthood.

- Richard Griffiths

Kid, Normal, Like, Exploded

I like playing Vernon Dursley in 'Harry Potter,' because that gives me a license to be horrible to kids. I hate the odious business of sucking up to the public.

- Richard Griffiths

Business, Like, Sucking, Odious

I could never understand the attraction of Bette Davis. I always preferred Jane Russell.

- Richard Griffiths

Never, Always, Russell, Attraction

When I see David Attenborough talking about how chimps live, big apes, I just remember my dad and the way he'd look at you. He couldn't speak, but everything else about him was, 'This is us, a family.' Relationships are just as intense as they are for people who can speak. Probably more so.

- Richard Griffiths

Big, About, Dad, Ape

Since puberty I've always had this strange awareness that all the keener experiences I would have in my life would happen later than it would to my contemporaries. When it came to the career thing, I never worried about it. It's better if you're still peaking when you're 60, which I feel I am.

- Richard Griffiths

My Life, Career, About, Keener

Some actors don't mind it. Those who are pretty. They think it's nice to be looked at because they are nice to look at. I appreciate that. I'm very happy to salute that aspiration. But I don't like the way I look so I don't like being photographed. I become defensive.

- Richard Griffiths

Happy, Some, Very, Salute

Actors do have good and bad sides. It's because the passage down the birth canal distorts the face. People born by caesarean section are more symmetrical.

- Richard Griffiths

Bad, More, Passage, Symmetrical

Every time I've talked about my family in the past, people have ended up getting upset. So I said to my friends and family: 'I shan't refer to you at all, and there's nothing for you to get upset about. There's the deal.'

- Richard Griffiths

Deal, Upset, About, Refer

I think there are people watching me, and if ever I manage to save £1,000 there's someone saying, 'Oh, we'll invent a tax to take that off him.'

- Richard Griffiths

Think, I Think, Save, Manage

My father taught me things about body language that psychologists have been catching up with ever since. He always knew when I was lying, because my posture was all wrong.

- Richard Griffiths

Father, Been, About, Psychologists

What can I say? I deal with it. I think I have come to terms with my absolutely hateful and vile childhood. No, I have, really. But I did hate it at the time. I resented it. There were elements of it that were positively Dickensian.

- Richard Griffiths

Think, Deal, I Think, Vile

It's been the most astonishing year because I've been having a marvelous adventure, and yet I kind of sympathize with people who have to live in exile, because I've so missed England.

- Richard Griffiths

England, Been, Sympathize, Marvelous

I've had a year out of work, more, and just toughed it out. There are those who think that all actors are overpaid. I beg to differ.

- Richard Griffiths

Think, Year, Beg, Differ

I know I have this kind of teaching element in me, but I don't want to become a 'teacher of theater' because that would formalize something that I'd much rather keep casual.

- Richard Griffiths

Kind, Want, Rather, Element

If I had my way, all actors over 55 would be issued a 3-lb. wet salmon with which to slap the face of every young, beautiful, successful upstart.

- Richard Griffiths

Young, Over, Which, Slap

If I were dictator, I'd have a catch-all crime of disrespect.

- Richard Griffiths

Crime, Dictator, Were, Disrespect

I've always hated the way I looked, and I've never complained about my brains.

- Richard Griffiths

Never, Always, Brains, Hated

I hated my childhood. It was loathsome. My parents were deaf and dumb. Profoundly so. They could make noises when they were emotionally aroused, but they couldn't form it into speech.

- Richard Griffiths

Childhood, Could, Aroused, Hated

Some bloke came up to me in Tesco a couple of years ago at 11:30 pm and said: 'Excuse me, would you mind telling my son here that you're Uncle Vernon?' I said: 'Get a grip. It's 11:30 at night - what's he doing out of bed? I'm not here to entertain people at this time of night.

- Richard Griffiths

Bed, Here, Entertain, Vernon

I hate being the subject of photographs.

- Richard Griffiths

Hate, Being, Subject, Photographs

I wouldn't inflict my naked body on any paying audience.

- Richard Griffiths

Audience, Naked, Inflict, Paying

My vanity is not remotely physical, it is cerebral. I suppose feeling self-conscious might be a form of vanity, though.

- Richard Griffiths

Self-Conscious, Form, Though, Suppose

Winning is something you've dreamed about and hoped for, so that when you get there it's no big deal. But if you lose, you're gutted, and the gutted sense just goes on, and I know what that's like, because I've been having that gutted feeling since 1979.

- Richard Griffiths

Big, Deal, Been, Big Deal

I don't think I'd live in London unless you paid me. Nine figures would be nice.

- Richard Griffiths

London, Think, Nine, Be Nice

I trained as an artist originally, so I know what a nice human body looks like, and I would like to look like that notion, and of course I never will. But I've got past that.

- Richard Griffiths

Artist, Human Body, Trained, Originally

I was big and fat and had weird parents.

- Richard Griffiths

Weird, Big, Had, Fat

I've got this terrible hernia. People think it's a fat gut, but it's not.

- Richard Griffiths

Think, Gut, Got, Fat

I've always turned down stuff where you had to be fat. I may be fat, but that's not why you play a role. If the guy has to be that way, I say get somebody else because I'm not doing any fat acting.

- Richard Griffiths

Play, Doing, Role, Fat

It's not that I'm sick of the theater, don't get me wrong. I'm just tired of the commitment.

- Richard Griffiths

Me, Theater, Get, Tired

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.