Dianne Wiest - biography

“Directors say that you should get actors before they are recognized.  They will be a pain or have an opinion.”

“I used to watch dailies and felt I had to keep on top of the character, but I don’t feel that any more.”

“I’ve been grateful for what comes along.”

“Theatre is not to make a living, so I don’t have the money pressure.”

“You are at the mercies of the dailies.  With an indie you don’t have that.”

“I failed to fulfill what should have been an interesting role.  I couldn’t take their formula and bring what I had, my humor, my ideas, and make it my own.”

“I recently turned down a film that I didn’t want my kids to see.  Priorities shift.  Sometimes I’m sad about that, but not enough to do anything about it.”

“I had to choose, I’d be so sad.  They are flip sides of the same coin.  I love both comedy and drama.”

“What I love is a peanut butter and pickle sandwich.  I’ll just have peanut butter and bananas, then peanut butter and pickles.  Peanut butter and chocolate I don’t recommend.”

“I’ve never been married or had a child, but I want that - very badly...  Do you know anybody?”

“All I’ve won since is three days on ‘Bright Lights, Big City’, as Michael J.  Fox’s mother.  That’s what an Oscar does for you.”

“I’m more aware of time.  The element of time.”

“My first meeting with Woody Allen lasted 30 seconds.  He looked at me, said hello, asked someone to take a Polaroid, thanked me very much and I was shown the door.  When I came out, the woman due after me was still doing the same thing as when I went in.  She was shocked - ‘What happened?’ But that’s how it is.  My agent had forewarned me.  Not hers.  She was stunned.”

“Woody is so musical in his filmmaking.  I’ve never worked with anyone I’ve trusted so completely.  He won’t let you hit a false note.”

“I look at the kids coming out of Yale.  They are so intelligent with their careers.  I wish I had that.”

“I shot Footloose nearby, and we used to hike.  Very fond memories.”

“It was just this crazy craziness, and the fact that it was shot in Paris, and it had these incredible people in it.  It was an easy thing to say yes to.”

“Sweet things happen.  They still do.”

“The formula is the star.  I couldn’t work inside that formula.”

“The studios are very much business.  Maybe it was always that way.  It is really commercial now.  Judgments are made and directions are given to make the cash register ring.”

“Unless you are unique, your opinion goes out the window.”

“Young people are more intelligent and sophisticated.”

Dianne Wiest has appeared in the following films:
It’s My Turn (1980)
I’m Dancing as Fast as I Can (1982)
Independence Day (1983)
Falling in Love (1984)
Footloose (1984)
The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)
Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)
Radio Days (1987)
September (1987)
The Lost Boys (1987)
Bright Lights, Big City (1988)
Parenthood (1989)
Cookie (1989)
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Little Man Tate (1991)
Bullets Over Broadway (1994)
Cops and Robbersons (1994)
The Scout (1994)
Drunks (1995)
The Birdcage (1996)
The Associate (1996)
The Horse Whisperer (1998)
Practical Magic (1998)
Not Afraid, Not Afraid (2001)
I Am Sam (2001)
Merci Docteur Rey (2002)
Robots (2005)
A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006)
Dan in Real Life (2007)
Dedication (2007)
Passengers (2008)
Rage (2009)
Rabbit Hole (2010)
The Big Year (2011)
Darling Companion (2012)