Max von Sydow's Quotes

It's important to me to work in my own language now and then. I love English, but you can never learn to master a foreign language if you're not brought up with it.

Movies give me an opportunity to go places. I'm not only a Swede but an American, not just a man of my time, but I've been living 2,000 years ago-and not just in a new country, America, but in the Holy Land, too.

Playing Christ, I began to feel shut away from the world. A newspaper became one of my biggest luxuries. I noticed that some of my close friends began treating me with reverence.

Playing the role of Christ was like being in a prison. It was the hardest part I've ever had to play in my life. I couldn't smoke or drink in public. I couldn't.

The idea of working with Steven Spielberg was very attractive. He's such a master. He knows the language of the camera and of filmmaking, which gives him a great freedom.

The most difficult part of playing Christ was that I had to keep up the image around the clock. As soon as the picture finished, I returned home to Sweden and tried to find my old self. It took six months to get back to normal.

The studio rented a house for my wife in Los Angeles under a phony name to keep reporters away. Whenever I wanted to visit her and my children, I would have to sneak in the back door after dark.

If Jesus came back today, and saw what was going on in his name, he'd never stop throwing up.

I don't believe in devils. Indifference and misunderstandings can create evil situations. Most of the time, people who appear to be evil are really victims of evil deeds.

I'm getting too old to play some parts, but I'm still greedy.

All my life I've been looking for diversity.

A vacation spot out of season always has a very special magic.

Bergman has a very special eye for people. His background taught him to listen and to feel.

Filming is repetition and many takes.

I accept a role only if it's something I really, really like.

I just feel I shouldn't work too much, because there are so many other things to do.

I remember those days with Bergman with great nostalgia. We were aware that the films were going to be quite important, and the work felt meaningful.

I think English is a fantastic, rich and musical language, but of course your mother tongue is the most important for an actor.

I'm not in retirement. I just don't want to work so much, and I don't get that many offers any more.

I've never been in a barroom brawl in my life. I just don't do such things.

In a theater, the part is mine and I can control it as I want to. In the movies, I don't have direct contact, and I am fighting technical machinery.

In Hollywood they usually cast me as villains or priests.

In this country, you have movie actors and theatre actors and television actors.

Only very rarely are foreigners or first-generation immigrants allowed to be nice people in American films. Those with an accent are bad guys.

Perhaps I scare people. I don't know why.

Producers are not gamblers. They want a good return on their investment.