“But then when that director comes to you and says, 'I think you should play it like this', you've surely got to go, 'How can I respect you, when you behave like that?” - CE
This kinda tells me he's 1, not a team player, and 2, he doesn't understand that the director is GOD on a movie or TV shoot (besides the Producers). Unless the director was asking him to play 9 completely out of character (of which RTD would object), it looks like Chris does not play well with others. It's not a moral highroad he's taking.
On a movie set, yes, but not on a TV shoot, director's aren't gods. Especially against the star of the TV show. A director is temporary to a project, the star and the producers are there for the whole thing.
And besides, it's not a very good director who says that to an actor. that's simply not good directing. The quote isn't very clear, for one thing. But, acting and directing is a collaboration. Especially when that episode is done, the director is gone. The actor has more ownership of a director passing through...