Al Pacino

Jamie Foxx does a good rendition of me. It's a real gift, mimicry of that kind, the tonal thing. It's sort of like having a talent for playing an instrument.

My first language was shy. It's only by having been thrust into the limelight that I have learned to cope with my shyness.

The actor becomes an emotional athlete. The process is painful - my personal life suffers.

There has been a lot of self-doubt and unwelcome events in my life.

The truth is, you know, we need our anodynes. You know that word, anodynes? We need that in life some times. A good warm bath can be one for you, or a whatever.

That's where humour lives for me. In the body. The Steve Martin kind of stuff or Jim Carrey, that's what I like. I've always felt that's what I would like to do.

Money makes your life easier. If you're lucky to have it, you're lucky.

I don't ever give my opinion. Opinions I have about anything are in my personal life.

When my mother got home from work, she would take me to the movies. It was her way of getting out, and she would take me with her. I'd go home and act all the parts. It had a tremendous influence on my becoming an actor.

Explain to me what Italian-American culture is. We've been here 100 years. Isn't Italian-American culture American culture? That's because we're so diverse, in terms of intermarriage.

Did you know I started out as a stand-up comic? People don't believe me when I tell them. That's how I saw myself, in comedy.

My grandmother always came to my shows. She was always concerned about the way I dressed - even later on, when I was well known and I supported her.