Viggo Mortensen on His First Movie Role and Why It Didn’t Bring Him Instant Success
“I’ve always stuck to a similar approach with each job. Show up on time and prepared, and pay attention.” – Viggo Mortensen
Octavia Spencer on Period Pieces: “I don’t come out of the time period; I stay in it”
“I listen to music of the time and I only deal with family and friends that are on the film” – Octavia Spencer
Tom Hardy on How He Prepared for His Role in ‘Taboo’
“I really think about acting in two different parts. There’s convincing and not convincing acting.” – Tom Hardy
Greta Gerwig’s Advice to New Actors: “Make your own things”
“When I suddenly feel like I can’t find my footing, I listen to a song or look at a photograph or read an essay, and reconnect with what I felt the essence of the character was.” – Greta Gerwig
Watch: Krysten Ritter Discusses Her Mentor Relationship with Her Acting Teacher
Ritter speaks about her relationship with Ballentine, how her support helped her survive in LA and how it has made her a better actress.
Mahershala Ali: Our Job is “to consistently put ourselves in a position where we’re uncomfortable and going beyond our comfort zone”
Ali points out that having anxiety or fear about a role shows that he’s getting close to finding his character.
Tom Hanks on Acting: “There are no shortcuts. Dear God, I wish there was, but there’s not”
“What would I do if I was in the circumstances of that man, that woman, that child, that android?” – Tom Hanks
Casting Director David Rubin: “The most important thing for an actor to bring to the table is themselves”
“And so many actors get preoccupied with what they think the filmmaker is looking for. And, frankly, what we’re looking for is them.” – Casting Director David Rubin
Benedict Cumberbatch on the Importance of Building a Character’s Backstory
“It’s important to understand the who, what, where, why of the character before you meet him” – Benedict Cumberbatch
Hayley Atwell’s Best Career Advice: “I’d say the main thing is: show up. Show up and be professional”
Atwell reflects on her career and recounts why she wanted to become an actress since she was a child and what was the best career advice she ever received.
How Joseph Gordon-Levitt Developed his ‘Snowden’ Voice
“You’re playing someone that everybody in the world has seen before. It’s a little different than playing a fictitious character.” – Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Mike Birbiglia Shares His Tips on “Making It Small” as an Actor
These are Birbiglia’s tips for any actor — or anyone in any creative field — on how they can grow their careers in small — but successful — ways.
‘Modern Family’ Casting Director Jeff Greenberg Talks About Putting Together the Sitcom’s Cast
“He had been auditioning for me for ten years. I had never hired him for anything” – Casting Director Jeff Greenberg on Modern Family Star, Eric Stonestreet
‘UnREAL’ Casting Director Barbara Fiorentino: “Having that ability to weave comedy into drama is so specific, and a lot of people can’t do it”
“I kind of had a bee in my bonnet about air space being taken up by real people when there are wonderful actors out there who needed jobs” – Casting Director Barbara Fiorentino
Tony Award-Winner Audra McDonald’s Acting Advice: “Choose the part that scares you”
McDonald recently shared some acting advice in a piece for Lincoln Center (a venue that McDonald is extremely familiar with)
Find Out How Oscar Isaac’s First Audition Led Him to Getting Cast in ‘Ex Machina’
Oscar Isaac proves that a unsuccessful audition doesn’t mean a dead end
How to Get Away with Murder’s Aja Naomi King Has Some Advice for Actors
“Create the part for yourself, so you can exercise that muscle, so you can be ready to go in that room” – Aja Naomi King
‘Baskets’ Casting Director Dorian Frankel: “We’re looking for believability in an odd world”
Frankel talks about developing the cast of the series and why authenticity was more important than a well-known actor
Casting Director Bernie Telsey’s Audition Tips
“Auditions are like a blind date for the casting director and the actor. The audition starts the minute you walk in the room” – Casting Director Bernie Telsey
Casting Directors Sherry Thomas & Gohar Gazazyan Discuss Casting ‘Gotham’, Self-Taped Auditions and More
“We look for somebody who can elevate the material, which is very important when you’re looking at so many actors for a specific role.”