Character Actress Margo Martindale

"I wage war against mediocrity every single day."

"My motivation has never wavered in fifty years."

"Inspiration comes from within, not from others' work."

"Relationships in Hollywood are professional by nature."

"I need solitude to recharge between performances."

"I've become a character so completely, I'm not sure who the real me is anymore."

"The stage is where I'm most honest, even if I'm lying."

"I don't need love when I have a standing ovation."

"Wisdom is knowing which battles to fight in this industry."

"Happiness is spelled S-U-C-C-E-S-S."

"My dreams became my reality through sheer force of will."

"I consider myself too important for traditional friendship."

"Family comes second to the craft, always."

"Hope is what I sell to the audience every night."

"Courage is continuing when you're told you're too old."

"I change characters, but never my principles."

"What I know now took decades of hard work to learn."

"Time is the only currency more valuable than money."

"Freedom for me means the freedom to choose my roles."

"I've earned the right to be exactly who I want to be."

"I've been in this business for a long time, and I know how to handle myself."

"Life is about showing up and doing the work, even when nobody's watching."

"You learn more from your failures than your successes, trust me on that."

"I didn't get where I am by being nice all the time."

"The key to happiness is accepting who you really are."

"Love is complicated, but that's what makes it worth pursuing."

"You have to be patient with yourself and others."

"Success means different things to different people."

"I've learned that kindness matters more than you think."

"Fear is just another emotion to work through."