Shy since childhood Clea DuVall has referred to herself as “an only child and I’m just a real loner kind of person, and yeah, kinda dark. But I’m happy. Not sad. I’m just shy and nervous.” [imdb.com] Like many other talented actors, she considers herself shy. Maybe acting – playing other people – is a [...]
Jessica Chastain once commented about her unusual appearance and seeking roles: “When I first moved to LA, it was very difficult. All the casting directors didn’t know what to do with me, with the way I looked. “I’m not blonde with tanned skin and tall and skinny. I looked very different – and they said [...]
“When you’re famous, you kind of run into human nature in a raw kind of way.” Marilyn Monroe Ayn Rand wrote a commentary in the Los Angeles Times, two weeks after Marilyn Monroe’s death on August 5, 1962. Referring to the “sordid and horrifying childhood of Monroe, Rand wrote: “To survive it and to preserve [...]
Like many actors who want to develop their talents, Vanessa Hudgens observes people – and also uses the experience for personal growth. She also develops her awareness through reading, such as the book The Four Agreements. Hudgens chose to act in “Sucker Punch” – and wear risqué costumes for the role – because she found [...]
“Mustering up enough self-esteem to say, ‘I want to be an actor,’ was a big turning point.” Julia Roberts [Parade mag. Nov 9 2008] Many creative people report feeling incompetent, inadequate and having low self esteem or self-regard at times. But there are ways to shift those feelings. A number of film actors report they [...]
Amber Riley is one of the dynamic actor-singers on the musical/comedy series Glee. She recalls her rejection from American Idol: “My life was crushed when they told me ‘No.’ But I was 17, it was a long time ago and rejection like that only makes you stronger, gets you asking — how can I better [...]
Evan Rachel Wood says, “I used to not even be able to order pizza on the phone because I was just so shy.” She thinks acting allows so much to come out on-screen, “because that’s my time to let go in a safe place.” Scarlett Johansson has noted that sensitivity can have a dark side: [...]
Julie Benz (on auditioning for “Dexter”): I had to come in with no makeup on and in sweats. And then I took it a step further because they wanted me to look really downtrodden, so I actually drank wine so I was hung over and I put mascara in my hair to give myself really [...]
Our personal identity – and how confident we are with it – can have a huge impact on our esteem and how fully we express our talents. Here are some quotes from the article: Ian McKellen reflects on ‘The Prisoner,’ Gandalf and gay rights, By Matea Gold, The Los Angeles Times. In his view, Hollywood [...]
From This I Believe essay and podcast : As a young girl growing up in Arkansas, Julie Adams longed to be an actress. Even though the odds were against her, she believed in the inner voice that encouraged her toward her dream — and it ultimately helped her find success in movies and television. “I’ve [...]
On her official blog, Dee Wallace writes: I want us all to look at our beliefs and thoughts about acting and the business (they are two entirely different subjects, you know!). The purpose of this is to bring to our consciousness any conflicting intentions or beliefs we may be holding that are sabotaging our success. [...]
In her post Defining Success on the Showfax blog The Actors Voice, author and casting director Bonnie Gillespie writes about new actors lusting after fame. Here are some excerpts : Those who do become household names? They’re talented. Yes. That’s a given. Being even moderately successful in this industry requires a baseline of talent. Done. [...]
Monica Raymund trained four years at the Juilliard School of drama, and performed at the Broadway Theatre Project in Tampa, before winning her role on the drama series Lie to Me, as an expert in nonverbal communication. She comments about her audition: “I just really didn’t think I was any good on TV,” she says, [...]
Amanda Seyfried says she was obsessive as a little girl. “I would have to be really organized—too organized. Things like straightening my room didn’t feel right to me; I’d have to redo it and redo it.” She thinks, “that kind of anxiety in me, that obsession, was helpful. I use it in my acting. It’s [...]
This video clip with Eric Bana and Leslie Mann is from the trailer for their new movie Funny People. In a BackStage magazine interview, Mann says she is terrible at auditioning. “I get so scared, and I can’t seem to get out of my head,” she admits. She appreciates casting directors who are patient with [...]
In a CNN interview in 2002, Edie Falco said she had not experienced anxiety attacks in “many, many years, but everybody I know and love has gone through periods of anxiety. “Everybody I know who has been pursuing a career in the arts. It’s a very difficult life to have chosen.” From article Actors and [...]
By guest author Elaine Elrod I am an aspiring actor and singer and am also the host and creator of Dramatic Impact: Acting and Theatre in Alberta. Dramatic Impact is a podcast that through video and audio recordings of interviews, forums, and performances, reveals how rich and vibrant the theatre scene is in Alberta, Canada. [...]
Emma Watson Acting in the final two “Potter” movies, and thinking about choosing college (maybe Columbia University), Emma Watson recently talked about criticism of her work as Hermione, and modulating her perfectionism. “I will look back on this part of my life and I know it will be special, but it used to be that [...]
[Interviewer:] People do end up isolated on set. It is a very isolative environment. It forces a sense of autonomy, and I suppose, I think, I may thrive on that kind of loneliness! That’s the creature I am. Do you have any hobbies? I do spend quite a bit of time thinking. I do have [...]
In a recent magazine profile, Evan Rachel Wood talks about feeling liberated by her relationship with Marilyn Manson to express her real identity. Here is the short profile : Evan Rachel Wood is a natural rebel, says Rachel Syme in TheDailybeast.com. In 2006, when she was 19, the actress set tongues wagging by dating the [...]