About Paul Dano: Paul Franklin Dano is an American actor and producer. Dano started his career on Broadway before making his film debut in The Newcomers (2000).
You look at the part in '12 Years A Slave,' you finish that script - I mean, it's a powerful story. You go, 'Man, I have to play a bad character in this.' And then you go, 'Well, do I want to play a bad character and contribute to a good story?'
I don't know that praise is always a good thing.
I don't normally like getting dressed up, but when I go to events, I like to look put together. I've got to say, getting in a nice suit feels good.
I want to do some bigger films, so long as there's some sort of exciting creative element or a good filmmaker behind them.
Robert De Niro's sort of like a surfer: he doesn't really force anything. So if he catches the wave, or something spills out - to watch a guy be a force at what he does. He has a good worth ethic.
I guess sometimes fear is a good thing. It's a really good motivator.
I do like the idea of consequence and how our actions play themselves out, but I am completely scared of knowing what the future would be like. I would never go near a fortune teller, even though it's probably not even real. I just don't wanna know.
It's a funny thing. You sort of never figure it out with acting. You're always learning.
I can obviously relate to a character who is an artist, because the creative process is a big part of my life.
I think control is a two-way street; sometimes people want to control things to keep them safe if they are afraid of life.
I think was overly empathetic for a while in my life.
I think it is important to make sure that I have my real life as well, because Hollywood can certainly seem like an alternate reality sometimes.
In life, you have to keep certain parts of yourself in check because you want to be a decent human being. But one of the guilty pleasures of acting is that sometimes you get to let a little something out that you don't in life because it's not right.
I don't want my learning curve to be stunted by just all of a sudden doing work all the time and not being careful about the work that I'm doing.
I've seen people, where if they have to wait around the set for three hours, and they call you at the wrong time, and they're not ready for you, some people don't like that.
I don't like to spend a lot of money on haircuts: I'll sometimes grow my hair and get an acting job and get them to cut it for free. I think for a lady, though, it's okay to spend a lot on a haircut.
With somebody like Harrison Ford, they're so commanding and confident, and you know, he does have a certain power or charisma, and those are things that are sort of ineffable.
Homeless people really upset me when I was little. A lot of kids have this reaction, but I would get really worried or sad or concerned or cry.
I love cereal. I eat several bowls a day, mostly a few late at night.
I love Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath and Guns N' Roses and AC/DC.
Sometimes we fall in love with the idea of a person and have trouble seeing the real thing.
