Anna Deavere Smith
Anna Deavere Smith
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionActress
Date of Birth18 September 1950
CountryUnited States of America
father funeral remember
I remember from my father's funeral that the minister kept using a metaphor about life of a prism. And I took that away like a cherished image.
television violent shows
I have never been in a violent movie or television show.
documentaries resources filmmaker
I would love to have been a documentary filmmaker; I just didn't have the resources to do that.
hard-work thinking doctors
I have a lot of optimism about new doctors because I think it's really clear that it's a lot of hard work and no guarantee of a lot of money.
political haute-couture language
I call the language of political figures, pundits and administrators 'the haute couture of language.'
people study
I love studying how people are. Not just what they're saying, but how they are, what they're doing.
upside-down moments possibility
I'm interested when things are upside down - because there are so many possibilities in that one moment. There is a lot that is exposed.
trends influence celebrate
Movies, as evidenced by a chorus of protesting and celebrating Americans, influence broader trends.
exercise dancer actors
You hang around actors, or dancers, the minute you sneeze, everybody has a remedy, and we're all on a million different kinds of diets, and different kinds of things that we do for exercise.
listening three way
If I do three interviews in a day, I can be exhausted, because the process of hearing everyone requires that I empty out myself. While I'm listening, my own judgments and prejudices certainly come up. But I know I won't get anything unless I get those things out of the way.
artist hats responsible
That artists are called to be more responsible and 'true' is a tip of hat to their power.
doe exploration explorers
You are an explorer. You understand that every time you go into the studio, you are after something that does not yet exist.
communication reality desire
Your desire to communicate must be bigger than your relationship with the chaotic and unfair realities.
people heartfelt stories
I am interested in personal stories because that's when people become expressive, spontaneous and heartfelt.