Vera Farmiga

“I look for struggle in the roles I choose - struggle and perseverance.”

“I think maybe I was a shepherdess in a past life.”

“I've never felt the breath of God - you can take that statement literally or metaphorically - more than when I was yearning for a personal, intimate connection to something bigger than me.”

“As an actor, you're sort of the court-appointed lawyer for the character.”

“Ruminants are a perfectly normal thing to possess when you live in upstate New York. It's just moving scenery. It's kind of like the equivalent of Great Danes. It's the way you keep your grass mowed. It's the way you keep your weed-whacking to a minimum.”

“I've played a lot of mothers in my movies.”

“I chase after inspiring stories.”

“I hate being manipulated by song. Don't tell me what I should be feeling. I don't want cellos or violins to be telling me that I should be bawling right now.”

“Normally, I rely heavily on my director to massage me out of my actor comfort zones.”

“I'm just someone who marvels at God.”

“I love Saturday nights with my best friend and a big bowl of pasta, wanting a good scare, something that will say, 'Listen, your life is not as bad as this. Your life can be so much worse.'”

“Sometimes I attract roles that are necessary either for personal growth or enlightenment.”

“In these times, in this harsh, rude, warring world that we live in, where most of the bloodshed is 'My god is greater than your god,' and we're fighting in the name of our god, we have to find a way to peaceably coexist, spiritually.”

“There are some times when I think acting can be a noble profession. And when those rare roles come along, like 'Down to the Bone,' you have the opportunity to be of service.”

“I come from a massive family, and the youngest is twentysomething years younger than I am, so I grew up with children.”

“It's a very different thing, religion and faith. Religion is man-made, it's man-regulated. And faith, you can define God as you wish. But I think they're two different things.”

“Doubt is the middle position between knowledge and ignorance. It encompasses cynicism but also genuine questioning.”

“You don't necessarily have to be religious to pray.”

“Whether you're making a million dollar film or a $100 million film there is never enough money, there's never enough time.”

“I think God gave us senses of humor, and we should use them.”