Notable Quotables — Advice for Actors
The American Theatre Wing has some wonderful programs, many of which they make available on their website. I get notified about some of them in my inbox, and thought I’d share some of the advice that came across the transom with my actor friends reading this blog (though some of this advice could be applied to any profession or person).
Featured in Equal Exchange: Actors 2010, 5 actors answered what they wish they would have known starting out in the biz:
Alfred Molina:
“Don’t make up your mind too soon. Learn to think twice.”
Jan Maxwell:
“Respect everyone. Revere no one.”
Anthony LaPaglia:
“In the auditioning process, never walk into a room with your cap in your hand. Don’t go in like they’re doing you a favor. It’s an equal exchange: you’re giving them your talent, they give you money. That’s the equal exchange in being hired as an actor. So many actors go into auditions with this kind of begging quality – I think you have to respect yourself as an actor.”
David Alan Grier:
“There’s no ‘last part.’ When I was much younger I was like ‘I have to get this role, because there will never be a part like this, there will never be a production like this, if I don’t get this role, then my life will never be the same.’ There’s always another role, another part. Also, do not dress in character because if things go badly, that’s a long ride home.”
Laura Linney:
“Don’t be afraid of the fact that no one is one thing. You have to be careful of what people will say to you, because you can take it too intensely. People will say, ‘Oh you’re this type, you’re that type, you’re this kind of actress, you’re that kind of actress,’ and that can really stunt somebody. I think you can let people say whatever they want to say, but just realize that there’s so much more to every human being. Actors don’t do just one thing – we do a lot of things.”
What an amazing teacher experience is!
–Sue
Add comment June 29th, 2010
