Jason Statham Quotes

I know, a lot of the films I've done, it's obvious I'm going to beat up six guys and just walk out the door. There's not a lot of motivating factors - it's just action for the sake of action.

People like to pigeonhole you.

A lot of action movies today seem to have scenes that just lead up to the action.

Me in a cape? I don't fancy that. Tight tights? Nah! I don't think that's right for me. I just respond more to true stories; that's my flavour.

Jet was very busy. I've been inspired by a lot of his movies.

I'm enthusiastic and ambitious, and I work hard.

A lot of the TV shows, they do long hours, and they do a lot of days, and you don't get a lot of time. But the good thing is, if you get one that's made in L.A., or made in a place you want to be, you get to go home every night.

I've been unfortunate enough to be working, and recovering from a few injuries now and again.

I'm not fixed in any genre. I love all kinds of films. The essential thing is; you have to have good material. If you have the filmmaker, and the material, and the script is good, you can start from there.

I go to this gym full of stunt men. There aren't any TVs or treadmills there. This is a spit-and-sawdust kind of place. It has a lot of great training aids - trampolines and bags and every weapon ever invented to do harm to a human being. If you want to know how to throw a knife, it's great.

It's not like I'm dying to do work that's taken seriously, and I'm not looking to become a thespian. It's not what I'm looking for; I'm just looking to do quality work.

I've never been one to run around in Speedos on the beach.

Sometimes there are people who don't know how to make action movies - and that situation isn't a good one.

I think that's as far as you have to think, everything happens as a coincidence. It either happens or it doesn't. It's hard to map out a strategic plan by saying, 'If I do that, that's going to get me to the next level.' I think that's the wrong way to go into movies as an actor. It doesn't happen for me that way.

Growing up where I did, you met a lot of colorful characters whose business was on the other side of the law, or more likely you didn't know what they were up to, and you never would. So playing those kinds of characters now, I can draw on that. The rest of it, you can practice or learn from books. But mostly, I draw from my experiences. That's all I have, you know.

It's hard to predict what kinds of people are going to enjoy it [film]. And what people ain't. That's the movies. You never know.

Do 40 hard minutes, not an hour and a half of nonsense.

We're trying to make a movie that's interesting.

I like heist movies. I like action movies that set all the elements into one and a chance to do something that comes from a great stable of writing.

I think being a competitive diver for years helps you focus and dedicate yourself to what's needed.

Some of my favorite movies are action movies. You want something good to say. That comes from good writing. But writing is not a skill I possess, unfortunately.

I like fashion. My mum was a dressmaker, believe it or not, so the consequence of that was that all my clothes were homemade, and I looked like a terrible mess until I was old enough to buy my own. But I love good tailoring.

Musclemen grow on trees. They can tense their muscles and look good in a mirror. So what? I'm interested in practical strength that's going to help me run, jump, twist, punch.

In Hollywood, people get reputations, just rumors that are passed down.

There is something about yourself that you don't know ...

It's street theater. You have to make it entertaining so people don't get bored and walk away.

I endured many weeks of it, but I had a big background in martial arts and fighting as a kid, so kind of all the problems got brushed away and I was ready.

I should never go with rumors because they're often not correct.

The thing about the UK is we don't really make that many great movies.

And it was a great experience, you know, to travel the world and compete at a certain level. It teaches you discipline, focus, and certainly keeps you out of trouble.

I'm not a method actor; I hope you know that!

If anybody knows how to make action movies it's Sly.

I'm certainly not Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt.

When I'm getting ready for a movie, let's just say my diet is 'The Antisocial Diet.' I don't go to restaurants. I don't eat what I really want to eat. I don't eat much. I eat small things frequently. Lots of protein and greens. And I don't eat with people, because there's a tendency to get social and then to overeat.

It's something I never dreamed I'd be doing, making movies.

People like 'Crank,' some people like 'Redemption.' I'm just happy to do things that satiate a different part of me, that test me a little bit.

I feel that I have a certain amount of experience and I'm still learning so much. But a director's job is so vast; they have so much to do with the preparation. You have to be great with all kinds of personalities and you have to be very patient, there's a lot of skills I'm not sure if I have. So I don't know if I'm ready to direct, but who knows what the future has.

I'm not as big a soccer fan as people might imagine, being British.

I like to relax. Spend it with people that I've grown up with, or people that I care about, and just relax, sit around doing nothing or sitting on a beach.

Every sequel needs to be bigger and better.

In L.A., it's very hard to have some kind of conscience of some style out there. The weather's too hot; there's no seasons.

Once you expose your private life, if you give one little bit, the floodgates are open and everyone's got a free range for you.

I'm more into MMA than any other sport. I watch a lot of the UFC fights. I have since it first came onto the scene.

When I go to the cinema I watch all different kinds of films.

You ain't ever gonna get an Academy Award for doing 'Crank,' and you certainly won't for doing all the other movies I've done.

I like Jackie [Chan] because I've been a fan of Jackie's forever. He's broken every bone in his body for his commitment and dedication to doing his own stunts. So he's the real deal.

A franchise is dictated on the success of doing one film right, so if you can get it done correctly, you've got a chance of something else, but sometimes it just doesn't work that way. Ideally, it's insurance for the future; if you can do something, if you can find a character that people really do like, then you're very lucky.

If you got a good imagination, a lot of confidence and you kind of know what you are saying, then you might be able to do it. I know a lot of colorful characters at home that would make great actors.

We were diving in caves. It wasn't totally safe.

I'm prepared to take risks. And every movie that I do is a risk. No one knows what the movie is going out turn out like.

I think we're all sensitive; everyone has a certain way about themselves that people don't like to let their emotions out too often. I think people tend to suppress them and hold them in, so I think there's a bit of that in me.

I was a sportsman for years. I've always had a physical background. I've always had an interest in boxing and fighting. To get physical in films is a dream. I love it.

Well, I'm used to rubbing shoulders with crooks and criminals.

If someone's got a fear of heights, they'd probably say, well, hanging off a helicopter at 3,000 feet above downtown L.A. would be the scariest. For me, that's a day's work, something I was very happy to do.

[On performing in action movies] I've spent all those years learning how to do certain skills, and then that competitive spirit kicks in and you want to do the stunts. Basically, it's the the male competitive ego at work.

The insurance of working with a big, already successful franchise just gives you the chance to do other things on a more personal level.

Looking good and feeling good go hand in hand. If you have a healthy lifestyle, your diet and nutrition are set, and you're working out, you're going to feel good.

I'm used to being efficient and a guy that can do more than the average guy can.

A lot of actors are frustrated because they want to do things that are different and test themselves. Character actors are always looking for something the opposite of what they did.