Jennifer Westfeldt Quotations

Well, you know, I'm quite a reluctant writer. I'm not someone who set out to be a writer or really wanted to be.

I seem to only write New York stories because it's the only thing that inspires or interests me.

As an actor, I've always been interested in making sure I can perform the role and the lines in the way the writer intended.

I'm not a parent yet, but I feel like a kid needs to be loved.

I'm pretty much honest to a fault. It's my best and my worst quality.

Everything I did growing up was with that as the real goal - doing Broadway; doing theatre. That was always the big thrill for me.

With any independent film, it's all about getting everyone's schedules in line and everything together at the same time and just doing the best you can do when that happens - if it happens.

People in theatre work harder than anyone in the world - as far as I'm concerned - as far as sheer output of energy and the rigor and excellence that they maintain doing something every day, or twice a day.

The part that I felt most comfortable with going in was just working with actors and trying to make them feel comfortable and safe so they could find the performance. That part felt organic to me.

I guess what I learned about myself is I'm a bit of a socialist; I want everyone on the set to get equal treatment and credit.

I think film is collaboration, and I always want to hear everyone's input.

The hardest thing is never what you think it's going to be.

In some ways I'm oddly traditional, I've been a serial monogamist since I was 12. I've always tried to work hard and get good grades and be a good person, but I feel like I've also always had a strange defiance of authority or the status quo, I've never understood why things always have to be just one way.

I've seen so many people in my life struggle tremendously to fit into those boxes or to live up to those expectations or pressures put upon them by whatever society's concept of 'normal' is. I get frustrated by rules and regulations. I'm frustrated by things that are exclusive to one particular life choice.

I think women should support each other's work, encourage each other's work, help develop each other's voices and I think, ultimately, when we can stop having the conversation about 'women filmmakers', and just talk about 'filmmakers', then we'll know we've really gotten somewhere.

Don't be too afraid of failure to learn what you need to learn.

The saddest and strangest part of Hollywood to me is the fact that millions of dollars are spent on developing works that never get made. It doesn't make any sense to me. I don't understand it.

As an actor on sets, Ive always clocked how hard the crew works, how much longer their days are, how much lesser their glory is - and the fact that their commitment to the work and project is unwavering, no matter the budget.

My mom and my stepdad are both therapists.

As an actor, Ive always been interested in making sure I can perform the role and the lines in the way the writer intended.

I think we all learn by doing rather than thinking about doing.

I always cry at weddings; they're beautiful, and I'm always moved.

It's exciting to take control of your future instead of waiting for the phone to ring,

Dogs just need you and love, that's all.