David Schwimmer

David Schwimmer: In recent months, I've noticed these little rolls of flesh in places that have always been flat.

David Schwimmer: I'm often asked whether Friends has been an albatross around my neck, or whether people only see me as 'Ross from Friends, but I don't ever think negatively about it. Really, that show has been a blessing. It's given me the financial freedom to choose the projects I really want to do.

David Schwimmer: (about the pressure of his first movie at the box office) For some reason I'm just not that scared. I realize there's a certain amount of pressure from critical circles and the industry. I feel like I'll be around for a very long time. I've watched the careers of bigger and better stars fade away. But I also think of Tom Hanks and Woody Harrelson.

David Schwimmer: (about kissing Jennifer Aniston) It's a job -- someone's gotta do it. The reality is, Jennifer and I can do our job well because we truly are friends. But when the day's over, she goes home to her boyfriend and I go home to a magazine.

David Schwimmer: (about Friends) I'm happy that Ross finally ended up with Rachel because he's loved her for so long and I like to think that love should prevail.

David Schwimmer: I think that, if the experience is positive, I would say acting on stage is my first love. I say a positive one because a lot of my joy comes from the team I am working with. If everyone is on the same team, it's a great ensemble, great director, great team of designers, etc., it's really the best of all experiences. A lot of my pleasure comes not only from great material, a great role, a great audience that night, but a great rehearsal process. I am all about the process. I am really lucky right now. We have an amazing director, Jerry Zaks. There is no ego in the room; just a great bunch of guys

David Schwimmer: (about the Caine Mutiny) I really feel humbled by the effort of that generation which many of my relatives were [a part of]. I love the law and the courtroom. I grew up with a kind of love and appreciation for the law.

David: (about acting) Relax and be yourself -- as if you'd ever just be standing in front of a camera not talking to anyone! It's very odd.

David: (about Friends) We were really lucky to have such talented and such nice people, it's really unusual.

David: (about Joey) It's on the same soundstage and it's with the whole crew.

David: I just went to see Joey film, Matt Le Blanc's show, and it was surreal.

David: I went from doing Friends to doing an independent movie and I just directed two pilots for NBC

David: It's really important to me not to be known as Ross when I'm 60.

David: My favorite thing about my family is that my sister and I will go over to our parents house on the weekend and play canasta.

David: (about acting) There are certain pressures and things that change your life to a degree that, in the cost benefit analysis that constantly goes on, sometimes makes you think, 'Maybe I should just leave'.

David: There are certain sacrifices that you make, and you feel like the only compensation you have as an actor is financial.

David: With the success of the last three or so years, when a lot of people start treating you differently, there's a danger that you may start to think of yourself differently. You rely on your friends to say, 'Hey, wake up!'

David: You're only as good as the sum of your parts, and one person can't be a team.

David: I like to grow as an actor, and you can do that by playing parts that are unfamiliar to you and uncomfortable.

David: I have a lot of girlfriends whom I've never been involved with. Those kinds of lines get drawn pretty early on.

David: I had a mustache when I was 13.

David Schwimmer: (When asked about marrying a Jewish woman) My parents would be thrilled. It makes things a lot easier, sharing a cultural and religious background, but I was raised completely without prejudice or bias in terms of meeting people of other races or cultures or religions - and I am pretty open.

David: I find America falling in love with a TV show flattering and interesting, but at the same time a little sad.

David: I don't tolerate any kind of dishonesty. I bring a lot to the table with my relationships, so I really expect the same.

David: Can I tell you how strange it is to look in your rearview mirror and see guys in cars tailing you?

David Schwimmer: (David Schwimmer talking about how he related to his character 'Ross Geller') There was definitely part of me that identified with that aspect of the character, the neurotic kind of lovable loser. And if you see pictures of me in high school especially, you know, 12, 13, 14-years-old, I mean, you will completely understand why...Like I had a baby face, like, you know, no hair on my chest or any-- but for some reason I had like a little mustache. You know, I was like, this is great. Braces, head gear, mustache, overweight, you know. I was a lady killer.

David Schwimmer: (David Schwimmer talking about life after Friends) For some reason, there's no fear. I'm not at all afraid. I'm more excited than anything. I mean, it's just been a great run, you know. And I think all of us feel like it's just-- we've reached our time to move on.

David Schwimmer: (David Schwimmer talking about choosing a play to participate in.) ...a couple of things came up that just never quite felt right. Either because I liked the play but wasn't hot on the director, or there was another star attached that I wasn't jazzed about working with.

David Schwimmer: If someone in a work environment says a racist joke, I'm the kind of person who says, 'I'm sorry, I don't find that funny, and I'd appreciate if you don't tell those kinds of jokes when I'm around.' And you can be looked at as, 'Wow, he's the bummer in the party.' But I just don't go for that.

David Schwimmer: (David Schwimmer talking about his role in the play The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial) There are many things I identified with. Being a Jewish man and kind of acknowledging what that means, being the son of lawyers and growing up loving the law. He's got a very strong sense of knowing what's right and what's wrong. It's one thing to know the right thing. It's another to say what you should say in a given situation, instead of swallowing it.

David Schwimmer: (David Schwimmer talking about his fame from the Friends sitcom) It's very strange to be known as a situation-comedy guy...I was mostly Serious Theater Guy. I definitely feel like I'm a stage actor first and foremost.

David Schwimmer: (David Schwimmer talks about how he felt in highschool.) I decided to try drama for the attention and making my family laugh. There is no greater joy then hearing your parents laugh. I enjoyed being the guy who made others laugh. As I became older, and more mature, I realized that there was a lot more to acting and there is a whole craft behind it. I love story telling! I love listening to stories and I love telling them.

David: I think Cosmo's campaign is great, and that the possession and distribution of any of these 'rape drugs' should be illegal.

David: I've made a good amount of money. I'm very happy that I can now support my theatre company and support friends and family, and I'm ready to maybe go back to school and change careers.

David: To be perfectly honest, I feel I have a duty to use my celebrity status in a positive way. Most rape victims are women, so the bulk of the discussion is loaded towards women. I thought I could find a way to approach the subject of rape in such a way that men are going to respond to it.

David: (about Jennifer Aniston co-star) The reality is, Jennifer and I can do our job well because we truly are friends. But when the day's over, she goes home to her boyfriend and I go home to a magazine.

David: Oh my God, people really think I'm Ross!

David Schwimmer: There's nothing like a play. It's so immediate and every performance is different. As an actor, you have the most control over what the audience is seeing.