Lee Daniels quotes: wise famous quotes, sayings and quotations by Lee Daniels

Lee Daniels Famous Quotes & Sayings

Discover top inspirational quotes from Lee Daniels on Wise Famous Quotes.

Lee Daniels quotes: I believe strongly that characters are five-dimensional, and they're complicated, and life is complicated, and people are complicated.

I believe strongly that characters are five-dimensional, and they're complicated, and life is complicated, and people are complicated.

Lee Daniels quotes: Most actors want the audience to like them, and that leads to bad acting.

Most actors want the audience to like them, and that leads to bad acting.

Lee Daniels quotes: I don't read the reviews, the blogs, or anything else. Instead, I feel the audience when I show the film.

I don't read the reviews, the blogs, or anything else. Instead, I feel the audience when I show the film.

Lee Daniels quotes: I knew that I'd end up directing because I'm so hands-on with my films.

I knew that I'd end up directing because I'm so hands-on with my films.

Lee Daniels quotes: When you have a lot of siblings, you always do something to feel special.

When you have a lot of siblings, you always do something to feel special.

Lee Daniels quotes: I started casting. I cast music videos, but I kept getting fired from jobs because I was iconoclastic in my ways of casting.

I started casting. I cast music videos, but I kept getting fired from jobs because I was iconoclastic in my ways of casting.

Lee Daniels quotes: I'm not going to be labeled a black filmmaker. I am not here to just tell black stories. I'm here to tell all kinds of stories, musicals and dramas.

I'm not going to be labeled a black filmmaker. I am not here to just tell black stories. I'm here to tell all kinds of stories, musicals and dramas.

Lee Daniels quotes: The rules are: The only ego is the film, and you have to serve the film.

The rules are: The only ego is the film, and you have to serve the film.

Lee Daniels quotes: I don't know - I haven't seen any of my movies after I finish them. I leave the editing room; I don't go back.

I don't know - I haven't seen any of my movies after I finish them. I leave the editing room; I don't go back.

Lee Daniels quotes: My philosophy has always been, you don't put your name in front of a movie.

My philosophy has always been, you don't put your name in front of a movie.

Lee Daniels quotes: At 19, I was in the streets making money. I was surviving.

At 19, I was in the streets making money. I was surviving.

Lee Daniels quotes: I thought I could write. So it was my intention to start off as a writer. But I wasn't really great at delivering the word at the end of the

I thought I could write. So it was my intention to start off as a writer. But I wasn't really great at delivering the word at the end of the day.

Lee Daniels quotes: People enjoy making fun of people who are famous; they love putting people down.

People enjoy making fun of people who are famous; they love putting people down.

Lee Daniels quotes: I was always in trouble. I was mischievous. And movies were always a part of my world.

I was always in trouble. I was mischievous. And movies were always a part of my world.

Lee Daniels quotes: I love actors, and I'm very protective of them. I trust them. It's a mutual trust.

I love actors, and I'm very protective of them. I trust them. It's a mutual trust.

Lee Daniels quotes: Trust is hard to get from actors, and for me to give to actors.

Trust is hard to get from actors, and for me to give to actors.

Lee Daniels quotes: I'm always workin', man. I gotta pay the light bills.

I'm always workin', man. I gotta pay the light bills.

Lee Daniels quotes: I don't work with fear, and I don't work with actors that are fearful.

I don't work with fear, and I don't work with actors that are fearful.

Lee Daniels quotes: My work is therapeutic: 'Monster's Ball,' 'Woodsman' and 'Shadowboxer,' because I don't go to therapy, and I sort of live life through my films.

My work is therapeutic: 'Monster's Ball,' 'Woodsman' and 'Shadowboxer,' because I don't go to therapy, and I sort of live life through my films.

Lee Daniels quotes: I've met Shonda Rhimes a few times, and certainly she's an inspiration for me in television.

I've met Shonda Rhimes a few times, and certainly she's an inspiration for me in television.

Lee Daniels quotes: My dream is to make a Superman hero that's gay.

My dream is to make a Superman hero that's gay.

Lee Daniels quotes: I worked at Warner Bros. for a while. I was the head of the minority talent casting. It was like pre-Spike Lee and post-blaxploitation era.

I worked at Warner Bros. for a while. I was the head of the minority talent casting. It was like pre-Spike Lee and post-blaxploitation era.

Lee Daniels quotes: I came to Hollywood to write and found out I don't have the attention span.

I came to Hollywood to write and found out I don't have the attention span.

Lee Daniels quotes: Rarely do celebrities and actors speak up for what they believe in.

Rarely do celebrities and actors speak up for what they believe in.

Lee Daniels quotes: My mom knew early on that I was gay, and she knew that I had to get out of the ghetto.

My mom knew early on that I was gay, and she knew that I had to get out of the ghetto.

Lee Daniels quotes: I don't profess to be Shonda Rhimes by any stretch of the imagination, or Dick Wolf. They're icons. I'm a filmmaker.

I don't profess to be Shonda Rhimes by any stretch of the imagination, or Dick Wolf. They're icons. I'm a filmmaker.

Lee Daniels quotes: There are servers, and there are people that are served. There's something contradictory about that in a democracy, certainly.

There are servers, and there are people that are served. There's something contradictory about that in a democracy, certainly.

Lee Daniels quotes: Some of my friends don't have a cell phone. Patti LaBelle doesn't have a cell phone.

Some of my friends don't have a cell phone. Patti LaBelle doesn't have a cell phone.

Lee Daniels quotes: I can't do movies where you start thinking "Where's the commercial appeal? How are we going to market this?" It's not that kind of party.

I can't do movies where you start thinking "Where's the commercial appeal? How are we going to market this?" It's not that kind of party.

Lee Daniels quotes: I've never done a studio movie, let alone worked for a network. Every one of my films has been independently financed.

I've never done a studio movie, let alone worked for a network. Every one of my films has been independently financed.

Lee Daniels quotes: I'm not Tyler Perry. I'm not Dino De Laurentis. I think it's a bit much to put one's name in front of the film. It makes me uncomfortable.

I'm not Tyler Perry. I'm not Dino De Laurentis. I think it's a bit much to put one's name in front of the film. It makes me uncomfortable.

Lee Daniels quotes: My kids tell me to Instagram, so I do that. I have a few thousand followers.

My kids tell me to Instagram, so I do that. I have a few thousand followers.

Lee Daniels quotes: I have a very clear vision, and I come from film, where director is God, so if there's a clash, it's painful.

I have a very clear vision, and I come from film, where director is God, so if there's a clash, it's painful.

Lee Daniels quotes: I like all my work equally. I look at the projects as children. I look at the experience more than the end result.

I like all my work equally. I look at the projects as children. I look at the experience more than the end result.

Lee Daniels quotes: America is fickle. You never know what they're going to go for.

America is fickle. You never know what they're going to go for.

Lee Daniels quotes: I don't want to sell my soul to Hollywood - to just make run-of-the-mill stuff.

I don't want to sell my soul to Hollywood - to just make run-of-the-mill stuff.

Lee Daniels quotes: Some of the most provocative TV that I'm inspired by is in the U.K. You guys take it for granted, but in America, we can't do it.

Some of the most provocative TV that I'm inspired by is in the U.K. You guys take it for granted, but in America, we can't do it.

Lee Daniels quotes: I hate white people writing for black people; it's so offensive. So we go out and look specifically for African-American voices.

I hate white people writing for black people; it's so offensive. So we go out and look specifically for African-American voices.

Lee Daniels quotes: I went back-to-back from 'Paperboy' to 'Butler,' literally with no break.

I went back-to-back from 'Paperboy' to 'Butler,' literally with no break.

Lee Daniels quotes: I always question if somebody else is going to love my films. I think that's what art is about - it's so individual.

I always question if somebody else is going to love my films. I think that's what art is about - it's so individual.

Lee Daniels quotes: I think this last film I finished, 'The Butler,' is the closest I will come to as a work-for-hire.

I think this last film I finished, 'The Butler,' is the closest I will come to as a work-for-hire.

Lee Daniels quotes: I look at my movies; I call my movies 'the kid.' It's like I'm giving birth. I'm in the cocoon, you know?

I look at my movies; I call my movies 'the kid.' It's like I'm giving birth. I'm in the cocoon, you know?

Lee Daniels quotes: I think the father-son love story is a universal one which transcends color.

I think the father-son love story is a universal one which transcends color.

Lee Daniels quotes: I want to learn. I want to stretch my muscles as a director and work under different circumstances.

I want to learn. I want to stretch my muscles as a director and work under different circumstances.

Lee Daniels quotes: I've dodged all sorts of bullets in Hollywood to get my movies made. I'm tough.

I've dodged all sorts of bullets in Hollywood to get my movies made. I'm tough.

Lee Daniels quotes: I had 'Push' and 'The Paperboy' next to my bed for many years. Those are some of the great, great novels.

I had 'Push' and 'The Paperboy' next to my bed for many years. Those are some of the great, great novels.

Lee Daniels quotes: The ratings board is completely different when it comes to film versus the television arena.

The ratings board is completely different when it comes to film versus the television arena.

Lee Daniels quotes: When I was young, I went to a church where the lighter-skinned you were, the closer you sat to the altar.

When I was young, I went to a church where the lighter-skinned you were, the closer you sat to the altar.

Lee Daniels quotes: My dad was a cop. My mom worked at various jobs - she worked as a homemaker, a bank teller, a bartender.

My dad was a cop. My mom worked at various jobs - she worked as a homemaker, a bank teller, a bartender.

Lee Daniels quotes: I'm not really vegan. I'm vegan-ish. I have a piece of lamb every now and then.

I'm not really vegan. I'm vegan-ish. I have a piece of lamb every now and then.

Lee Daniels quotes: I have a partner, Danny Strong; he's an incredible writer and, really, my backbone. So when we don't see eye to eye, it's painful.

I have a partner, Danny Strong; he's an incredible writer and, really, my backbone. So when we don't see eye to eye, it's painful.

Lee Daniels quotes: With TV, you're in people's houses every night. And you have so much time to tell stories. I don't know why I didn't do it before.

With TV, you're in people's houses every night. And you have so much time to tell stories. I don't know why I didn't do it before.

Lee Daniels quotes: I went to school at Radnor High School. And I went to a liberal arts college in St. Louis, Missouri, called Lindenwood College.

I went to school at Radnor High School. And I went to a liberal arts college in St. Louis, Missouri, called Lindenwood College.

Lee Daniels quotes: I like to show the grey area in all my characters.

I like to show the grey area in all my characters.

Lee Daniels quotes: Most times when I do a film, it starts out with one idea and ends up not being what I thought it was going to be.

Most times when I do a film, it starts out with one idea and ends up not being what I thought it was going to be.

Lee Daniels quotes: I wanted to make a black 'Dynasty.'

I wanted to make a black 'Dynasty.'

Lee Daniels quotes: I love black women. I live for them. They are everything to me. I'm obsessed with them. They are sophisticated, resilient and smarter than me.

I love black women. I live for them. They are everything to me. I'm obsessed with them. They are sophisticated, resilient and smarter than me.

Lee Daniels quotes: I have twins that I didn't want to have the life that I had. I didn't have a great life growing up.

I have twins that I didn't want to have the life that I had. I didn't have a great life growing up.

Lee Daniels quotes: My mom had five kids. And she came home after working three jobs, and I'd rub her feet. We'd all rub her feet. We were lucky to get any time

My mom had five kids. And she came home after working three jobs, and I'd rub her feet. We'd all rub her feet. We were lucky to get any time with her.

Lee Daniels quotes: My mission is to let black kids know that their dreams can happen.

My mission is to let black kids know that their dreams can happen.

Lee Daniels quotes: It's hard for me to accept love. I wish I could lie to you and tell you that it's easy for me, but it's not.

It's hard for me to accept love. I wish I could lie to you and tell you that it's easy for me, but it's not.

Lee Daniels quotes: I come from a family of servants. My father's father was a servant, and my father's father's father was a slave.

I come from a family of servants. My father's father was a servant, and my father's father's father was a slave.

Lee Daniels quotes: I've had all types of beautiful girls tell me that they ugly when they look in the mirror, as if it's someone else's reflection they see.

I've had all types of beautiful girls tell me that they ugly when they look in the mirror, as if it's someone else's reflection they see.

Lee Daniels quotes: I was the oldest of five children, each about a year apart, and my mother, bless her heart, had her hands full.

I was the oldest of five children, each about a year apart, and my mother, bless her heart, had her hands full.

Lee Daniels quotes: I think that when you have audacity, you will get polarization.

I think that when you have audacity, you will get polarization.

Lee Daniels quotes: Theater was always in the backdrop. Nursing was a way to pay the bills. I wasn't a nurse; I had a nursing agency.

Theater was always in the backdrop. Nursing was a way to pay the bills. I wasn't a nurse; I had a nursing agency.

Lee Daniels quotes: I want to go to places that are unexpected of me because people really think they have me pegged.

I want to go to places that are unexpected of me because people really think they have me pegged.

Lee Daniels quotes: Most of my friends are dead. I watched friends die in my arms at 5, 6, 8. When I grew up, the rest of my friends died of AIDS.

Most of my friends are dead. I watched friends die in my arms at 5, 6, 8. When I grew up, the rest of my friends died of AIDS.

Lee Daniels quotes: 'Shadowboxer' was based on my life.

'Shadowboxer' was based on my life.

Lee Daniels quotes: I'm in a great place because I trust people behind the camera as I go off, and I still go back to my day job and do film.

I'm in a great place because I trust people behind the camera as I go off, and I still go back to my day job and do film.

Lee Daniels quotes: 'Empire' was a very traumatic experience for me. It was very schizophrenic, and it wasn't what I expected it to be.

'Empire' was a very traumatic experience for me. It was very schizophrenic, and it wasn't what I expected it to be.