Patti LuPone

“I think that Stevie Nicks is one of the greats. Steve Nicks and Grace Slick and Janis Joplin have the real rock voices, to me.”

“I'd love to do situation comedy - it's the best job in show business.”

“I just love chickens.”

“I'm totally Italian, but I'm not a diva. If you could see the way I'm dressed in daily life, that's not a diva. Appearances are so not important to me.”

“The book 'A Reliable Wife' is a slice of American history. It takes a part of American history and tells a story about the purchase of a wife by a Wisconsin businessman. The research of that would have been really interesting.”

“It's not easy being an actor, and having said that, everybody's an actor. Do you know what I mean? Paris Hilton's an actor, which is kind of scary. But if you want to honor your craft and yourself, strive for the nobler instincts.”

“I just create, that's what I do.”

“I'll tell you what I think in general about people who want to make their Broadway debut that are not trained stage actors. Don't they know, Broadway ain't for sissies? It is a tough gig. You are responsible, physically, mentally, emotionally, for eight shows a week, at the top of your game. It's not easy.”

“The word diva to me means doing something supernatural with something natural.”

“In America, it stands out, because it's raw, it's big, it's emotional. My face is raw, big and emotional. It didn't work for the longest time.”

“The only thing we are as actors are messengers. That's all we are. Correct? We are delivering the playwright's intention through the concept of the director. And I come on stage; if I feel confident in the role, then I give it away.”

“To be nominated was enough, but when I won I the Tony I just felt relief.”

“All my career, I've said this: Critics and producers think audiences want actors that only present the silhouette and hit the points in the silhouette. What I do is too dangerous.”

“A well-rounded performer will listen to all kinds of music. I like classical, Middle Eastern, and rock a lot.”

“I'm sure there are actors out there who work with other actors on a consistent basis - I am not one of them.”

“I think Madonna is a wonderful performer.”

“I played the tuba in high school. I wanted to be a member of the marching band. I thought, what can I play that has the most effect? What can I play to get people to laugh?”

“I know what it means to have a leading part, and I know what it means to have a featured part.”

“I am in musical theatre, but it isn't necessarily what I listen to in my leisure time, do you know what I mean?”

“I don't listen to the contemporary pop artists. They all sound alike, anyway.”