New Zealander Quotes

But I think it's quite clear in my work that my orientation isn't political or doesn't come out of modern politics.

Between 18 and 26 I acted professionally, on the stage and a little bit on television. Acting is okay, but it's quite pressurized. Then I went to England - I wanted to reinvent myself.

Because there is that sort of feeling that people don't know what to do with gaps in their lives. It's a scary notion, but actually, if you can stand in space just for a little while, a new door will open, or you'll be able to see in the dark after a while. You'll adjust.

As for how criticism of Keats' poetry relates to criticism of my own work, I'll leave that for others to decide.

And, I mean, I think poetry does need to be met to some extent, especially, I guess, 19th century poetry, and for me, it's just been so worth the effort. It's like I'm planting a garden in my head.

Actual violence has no attraction for me at all.

A message I've been telling myself: the cinema is very conservative, and unless you have a story that satisfies you, that is within the unchallenging zone, but you love it, you can't do it as cinema. Otherwise, you better go do it for television, which is more daring now.

I would love to see more women directors because they represent half of the population - and gave birth to the whole world. Without them writing and being directors, the rest of us are not going to know the whole story.

I had a daughter who was 9 years old and I had the feeling I wasn't going to be a real parent if I didn't quit making movies for a while and spend time with her. I also felt that I'd made enough movies and said what I had to say at the time.

But short films are not inferior, just different. I think the short gives a freedom to film-makers. What's appealing is that you don't have as much responsibility for storytelling and plot. They can be more like a portrait, or a poem.

Performers are so vulnerable. They're frightened of humiliation, sure their work will be crap. I try to make an environment where it's warm, where it's OK to fail - a kind of home, I suppose.

Women often postpone their lives, thinking that if they're not with a partner then it doesn't really count. They're still searching for their prince, in a way. And as much as we don't discuss that, because it's too embarrassing and too sad, I think it really does exist.

My greatest fear is flying. And I do a lot of flying, so that's a bummer.

If we can send a man to the moon, then why don't we send a woman?

I'm working on just finding a boyfriend right now.

I wish I had Wonder Woman's magic lasso like her to make people tell the truth.

I wish I had more hair on my head. Maybe if I sprinkled fertilizer on it, it would grow.

I want my children and grandchildren to see what I look like now.

I stayed away from mirrors when I was younger and I didn't like having my picture taken. I was tall and had braces and felt ugly.

I can pull a bone out of my shoulder and dislocate it.

I like to walk around my apartment naked. I like sitting around in the nude watching sports, actually.