Joaquin Phoenix has donned numerous hats as an actor and believes in doing the same in real life too. Apart from acting and producing films, Phoenix is also a social activist. He strongly voices his opinion in support of animal rights. He frequently campaigns for ‘PETA’ and ‘In Defense of Animals’. He is a director at the charitable organisation ‘The Lunchbox Fund’ which works towards providing regular meals to poor students in Soweto, South Africa. Not the one to speak diplomatically, his quotes on life, family, Hollywood, work ethics, politics, charity, and animal rights might just inspire you to not follow the norm and be different.
I'm vomiting days before I start shooting a new movie.
Joaquin Phoenix
I've never made $20 million. I'm scared. I don't know if you gave me The Ring if I could carry it and bring it to Ozamorph, or whatever you call it.
Joaquin Phoenix
Together, we can make a U.S. Department of Peace into a reality, and leave a gift of peace for generations to come.
Joaquin Phoenix
The footage that you're about to watch of China's dog-leather trade is one of the worst things I've ever seen.
Joaquin Phoenix
That to me was really, certainly, the gateway into discovering John, ... I feel I found the speaking voice through the singing voice.
Joaquin Phoenix
I don't spend most of my life in front of the media.
Joaquin Phoenix
For me, I guess I'm the acting equivalent of somebody that jumps off buildings and parachutes.
Joaquin Phoenix
I don't think one should be comfortable standing on a stage with people applauding and laughing at every stupid thing you say.
Joaquin Phoenix
I'm proud of my brother. I would never not want to be associated with him.
Joaquin Phoenix
I wouldn't feel satisfied being on set every day doing a romantic comedy - I'd be bored to death.
Joaquin Phoenix
I've made up so many stores about my name, I can't remember.
Joaquin Phoenix
I've worked with a lot of people on music and often times those things don't work out.
Joaquin Phoenix
It's an amazing feeling to go into a studio and really be alone.
Joaquin Phoenix
My dissatisfaction with acting has nothing to do with being uncomfortable or vulnerable or feeling like people are going to criticize me. That's not the problem.
Joaquin Phoenix
I love scripts about relationships, and I love to see puppy love evolving into this mature love and communication.
Joaquin Phoenix
I love doing the music. I love programming beats and kind of working on the music as much, if not more, than the actual rapping.
Joaquin Phoenix
I know if I'm lost in the moment or not.
Joaquin Phoenix
I enjoy writing rhymes and sitting alone in a room listening to beats. It's pretty amazing.
Joaquin Phoenix
The offers were, like, a lot of money - maybe not for other actors, but definitely for me. But I don't want that power. I don't want $20-million power.
In every film, whether it's a fictional character or not, you create an idea of the character and for me I always do a bad impersonation to start with.
I just I don't feel challenged by acting anymore. I don't enjoy the process anymore.
Joaquin Phoenix
Every single movie that I've ever done has affected my life; I always feel more changed by a character than I affect them or change them, always. I mean, that's just kind of the way it is.
There is no need for fur - since there are compassionate alternatives.
Joaquin Phoenix
I didn't know much about him, and I wasn't a big country music fan. I listened to the Beatles and David Bowie, so I didn't know a lot about him.
Joaquin Phoenix
For me, I'd rather have an intense experience than not.
Joaquin Phoenix
How can you work in film and still see the overt racism that exists in film and not just be furious all the time?
Joaquin Phoenix
I like being an employee. I like making somebody happy - and if they're not, then I'm crushed.
Joaquin Phoenix
I don't walk around like I'm a movie star because I don't think of myself as a movie star. People usually don't even notice me.
Joaquin Phoenix
I've always loved hip-hop, since I was a kid, that's the music that I loved. I think everyone of our generation kind of fantasized about hip-hop in some ways.
Joaquin Phoenix
My personal life absolutely goes down the drain when I start working; that's something that I'm incapable of doing.
Joaquin Phoenix
I've been prepping for my role as Medusa.
Joaquin Phoenix
I've been in clubs. I don't like being in an enclosed place with really loud music, and a lot of drunk people. It's not my idea of a good time. It's just such a miserable life.
Joaquin Phoenix
I do like to collaborate, and I like hearing other people, and I like how somebody's performance will affect my own.
Joaquin Phoenix
I don't know a single person in life that doesn't have conflict.
Joaquin Phoenix
I'm like the kid that crams for tests and never remembers anything.
Joaquin Phoenix
I like working all the time. I hate taking breaks. I don't like the weekends.
Joaquin Phoenix
The less someone knows about me, the better, because my intention is to play a variety of characters.
I don't have the slightest desire to speak over my dead brother. It gets on my nerves to always be compared with him. My brother was a magnificent person and an outstanding actor.
Joaquin Phoenix
Do I have a large frog in my hair? I have the sensation that something is eating my brain.
Joaquin Phoenix
I don't know why I always get to play these guys who have few redeeming features. But don't knock it. Villains are much more fun.
Joaquin Phoenix
Is it that your dream is unattainable or is it that you have the wrong dream?
Joaquin Phoenix
It takes nothing away from a human to be kind to an animal.
Joaquin Phoenix
Whether you think a film will affect society or it's plain entertainment, it's all excellent, it's all noble.
I feel like everything you learn as an actor growing up is wrong. You're supposed to hit your mark, find your light and know your lines. Those are all things that just make things wooden, dull and boring.
In every film, whether it's a fictional character or not, you create an idea of the character and for me I always do a bad impersonation to start with.
Going out on a stage publicly and not knowing how people are going to react to you - once I experienced that, it made me feel much more comfortable about going into a scene.
I think the day that I become comfortable doing interviews and going on talk shows is the day that I don't know what it is to be a human being anymore.
I don't really make movies because I want to see my face on a billboard or because I want to get good reviews or have a big box office. That doesn't really matter to me at all.
I don't know why I always get to play these guys who have few redeeming features. But don't knock it. Villains are much more fun.
Joaquin Phoenix
I feel an obligation to set the record straight. Actors that say they're affected by something, that it changes their life, that they take it home with them, they're just trying to get nominated for an Oscar!
I've always loved hip-hop, since I was a kid, that's the music that I loved. I think everyone of our generation kind of fantasized about hip-hop in some ways.
I've always loved music, but I never really played anything. After 'Walk the Line' and learning to play guitar, and having that sense of performing, I think that certainly opened the door for me, for music.
In most films - especially in regards to the protagonist - really from the get-go they set up some scenario that endears that character to the audience. Or imbues him with some nobility or heroism or something.
I becan acting when River was doing this TV series and they needed two kids for the show, so they got me and my little sister, Summer, to do it. After that I did some really weird guest spots with orangutans and stuff.
I once told a journalist that girls call me 'Kitten,' but I couldn't have been more sarcastic, and no matter how many times I've said that it was a joke, it still doesn't go away.
