Quotes

It's very liberating to be naked in front of a hundred people, but there's nothing sexual about lovemaking on a movie set...

. . . but it was movies I had always wanted to be in. I'm into the whole thing, not just performing. I love watching what goes on behind the camera. My heroes are Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd -- complete filmmakers.

I want people to re-evaluate me. My dream would be to make films like Clint Eastwood did... You have to be a self-starter out here at a certain point. It's important to take the reigns or, otherwise, you can be regaled to obscurity so quickly.

I've always loved movies about con men. I think con men are as American as apple pie.

I support the troops. This is tough time right now. I think a lot of people in our industry are afraid to speak out. I had a drink with Sean Penn the other night. He went over to Baghdad in December just to see for himself what was going on. And that guy is as American as anybody I ever met.

[on auditioning for The Doors (1991)] I read my ass off. At the time, I was doing Navy Seals (1990) and I flew up with short hair and a mustache to read for the lead. [Oliver Stone's] response was, "Well, I just don't see it".

[on James Cameron] This guy has more integrity than anyone I ever met in my life.

Anyone who's worked very hard on a craft or an art to get a certain precision in terms of execution and performance wants to get past all that stuff that holds you up - your ego, all the doubts.

[on his experiences as a director] I have great empathy for my actors. They trust me because they know that I have been on the front end of the camera.

I watched how Billy (Billy Bob Thornton), Matt Damon, Ben Affleck -- all these guys were suddenly lauded because they made films. I don't think you get respect as an actor in this town, unless you're Tom Cruise or Tom Hanks. But you get respect as a film-maker.

[referring to 11 September 2001, a filming day for Ghosts of the Abyss (2003)] When we first got word, Jim had just gone down with the two submarines. It was the last dive, because Hurricane Erin was coming... [Paxton waited hours for James Cameron's return to tell him the news of the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington] I said, "Jim, the world changed from the time you went down till you came back." It was strange. We felt a little bit like survivors out there.

My biggest disappointment is not getting to do the romantic roles I always dreamed of. But I've had a pretty good career. And you know what? We'e grist for the mill out here, and if I quit doing this, there's 10 guys ready to take my place.

I don't believe in heroes and villains ultimately. I believe people are capable of great villainy and great heroism -- the same person.