If you look at yourself as a star, you've already lost something in the portrayal of any human being

Dysfunctional families have sired a number of pretty good actors.

Scarecrow

[Asked what changed in the tide to allow them to be stars, Hoffman laughs and replies,] A decline in the culture. ... Everyone has a chance if you're lucky enough to find the property and we all three individually were very fortunate.

You have a powerful weapon working for you. For you there is no tomorrow and that makes you all very dangerous people!

I was trained to be an actor, not a star. I was trained to play roles, not to deal with fame and agents and lawyers and the press.