Sarah Polley on fame In a recent article, film critic Kenneth Turan writes: Sarah Polley looks back on her decision to leave “Almost Famous” as a turning point in her life, a decision to keep fame at bay and have as normal a life as possible. “My first experience with a sliver of fame was [...]
In a recent news story, the accomplished actor, director and producer “warned aspiring actors against getting entangled in the idea of popularity as it could be destructive. “The 60- year old, academy nominated actor has blamed Hollywood and attendant fame for the discomposure and bedlam in his personal life. “Success and fame are as addictive [...]
When I was substitute teaching in New York City public school…I kept getting offered full-time teaching jobs, and I kept going, wow, I could leave this acting thing and have benefits and a regular income, and (laugh) make a difference in the world, and feel good about my work. And not have to worry about [...]
It starts with the scripts Actor Naomie Harris [Pirates of the Caribbean 2 & 3; Miami Vice and others] comments on the portrayal of women in movies: “Everything starts in the writing, and getting more and more women’s perspective in the writing will have a huge impact on the quality of films we get. At [...]
In a recent interview for Reuters news, Ellen Burstyn commented, “Acting? I think it needs some help. TV has lowered the bar. With quicker schedules everything is rushed, so the quality gets lowered.” Burstyn won the Best Actress Academy Award for 1974′s “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” and has a total of six Oscar nominations, [...]
“Actors are rogues and vagabonds. Or they ought to be. I can’t stand it when they behave like solicitors from Penge. … I’m a would-be rebel. The good girl who’d like to be a bad one.” Helen Mirren [imdb.com, unknown date] But being “bad” [at least in a good way, not self- or socially-destructive] can [...]
Her character in “Casino Royale” is a woman of complexity, intellect and self-assurance. Eva Green has commented about some aspects of her life that help develop the kind of depth she has as a person to play such a role. “I am many things. I can be quite mad, and young, but I’m not the [...]
Speaking of her work in “The Departed” as an example, Vera Farmiga says, “Most of what I want to dwell on with all my characters, what interests me, are the contradictions, the inconsistencies of characters and the insecurity and confusion and fear which we all have.” With her ability to disappear into her roles, Farmiga [...]
Masi Oka Masayori “Masi” Oka is an actor and digital effects artist, plays Hiro Nakamura in the NBC series Heroes, was born in Tokyo, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in computer science and mathematics with minor in theater arts from Brown University in 1997 and also works at George Lucas’ Industrial Light & Magic [...]
Shia LaBeouf [his new film is "A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints"] says, “I’m a lonely dude. But, again, it’s the price. You subject yourself to weird [stuff], just so you can feel something. To be an actor, a true actor, you have to be brokenhearted.” [The Washington Post, October 17, 2006] That comment reminded [...]
Too embarassed to say ‘No’ Many actresses choose to promote themselves and their films through revealing and sexy magazine spreads. Much as we may enjoy them, for the “stars” of those sexy photos, it may not always be so positive. Jessica Biel [left] wrote a letter that appeared in the Jan. ’04 edition of Seventeen [...]
Claire Danes on wanting acceptance Claire Danes admits that when she was growing up, she “wanted desperately to please, to be a good girl. I wanted acceptance. I still do.” Like many artists, she sought acceptance in renown: “A part of me desired fame because I associated it with love. That was a total mistake. [...]
Danielle Panabaker Danielle Panabaker [left] cautions, “You’d be surprised how many people are headed in the wrong direction [in Hollywood] and it makes me very sad to see these people with so much potential at such young ages getting involved in things that they should not be getting involved in. “I try to surround myself [...]
Harry Dean Stanton – compelling authenticity “I play myself all the time… on camera and off. What else can I do?” Harry Dean Stanton [photo and quote from the HBO.com section for “Big Love”] Nicolas Cage thinks “Harry Dean exudes a spiritual awareness that’s steeped in deep sadness, and it’s so compelling to watch on [...]
Cherry Jones Cherry Jones [left], earned a Tony nomination for her acting in a stage production of A Moon for the Misbegotten [2002] but was “nearly paralyzed by a profound case of stage fright” according to a Time Out New York article. She said it was from “Living up to the greatest performance I have [...]
Sarah Polley “I think you have to keep your distance from mainstream Hollywood in order to be a normal human being,” Sarah Polley [left] once commented. [imdb.com] She continued, “I mean, I work there, and I like being there, but I love having an anonymous life. I think there’s definitely such a thing as being [...]
Navi Rawat One of the pleasures of the tv series “Numb3rs” is a character [Amita Ramanujan - played by Navi Rawat] who is not only a math whiz, but a woman of exotic beauty, not the standard blonde [as appealing as many blonde actors may be]. Navi Rawat was born to a German mother and [...]
> excerpt from article: “This top grossing actor has strict code – Samuel Jackson sees his stardom as artistic capital, something he’s unwilling to have frittered away.” By Patrick Goldstein, Los Angeles Times, February 14, 2006 He is intensely disciplined and purposeful, a combination that has made him much in demand as an actor, though [...]
Mainstream film/tv studios are considered a “boys’ club” with good reason: they usually make story and casting decisions based on adolescent male values [eg fast action, violence, t&a] – not exactly high spiritual or creative ideals. Casting often excludes and limits actors with talent. Indira Varma Indira Varma [“Bride & Prejudice” etc] notes in the [...]
A demanding career A number of actors advise pursuing this very demanding career only if you can’t feel right doing anything else. And a number of highly talented actors change direction into writing, producing or some other vocation. You need to be aware of what is really driving you. Maria Bello on being of service [...]