Quote by Christopher Meloni
De Niro was a hero of mine. And Sean Penn. But I've realized I can't operate at that level of intensity. That's okay for movies. On TV, when you live with horror day in and day out, you have to protect yourself.
Summary
In this quote, the speaker expresses admiration for actors like De Niro and Sean Penn but acknowledges that they cannot match their level of intensity in their own work. While such intensity might be suitable for theatrical performances, working on TV shows that constantly deal with dark and horrifying subject matter necessitates the need for self-preservation. The quote highlights the importance of balancing personal well-being when consistently exposed to challenging content in the television industry.