Michael Imperioli

“The Sopranos was the first show where the bad guy was the lead.”

“It's not about how you're feeling, it's about what you're doing.”

“To me, acting is like a religion. It's a craft, a science, an art.”

“I think that art is supposed to be ahead of the times. It's not supposed to be reflecting the times.”

“You can have a great script, a great director, a great cast, but if you don't have chemistry, you don't have anything.”

“I've been a Buddhist for about 15 years, and that's been a very big part of my life and a big part of my creative process.”

“A lot of people think that acting is a selfish profession. But it's really about being of service.”

“You have to have a thick skin to be in this business.”

“I don't think you can ever be a 'master' of anything. You're always a student.”

“I always wanted to be a character actor. I never wanted to be a leading man.”

“You have to be willing to fail. That's the only way you can succeed.”

“My favorite part of the job is the creative process. The collaboration.”

“I try not to have a lot of regrets. I think that's a wasted emotion.”

“Meditation is a huge part of my life. It has really helped me to be more present and more centered.”