Ian McKellen Has No Plans to Retire: “I really feel I’m quite good at this acting thing now”
McKellen also opens up about his approach to acting, including noting the worst experience he ever had making a film.
Jessica Chastain on Her Early Career Experiences and Auditions: I was “trying to do as much as I could”
Chastain notes that the residuals she received from her early projects helped sustain her before her career took off. “I don’t know what I’d have done without that residual money.”
Jeff Bridges on Collaborating with Actors: “Look it, we’re all in this together, man. Let’s make something beautiful”
Actor Jeff Bridges talks about his approach to acting and why he finds “jamming” with other actors to be his ideal way to work on a project.
‘The Bear’ Star Ebon Moss-Bachrach on His Characters: “I’m not ever concerned with whether they’re likable”
As an actor, Moss-Bachrach tries to focus on maintaining relaxation, saying that he tries to “relax and negotiate this tightrope walk of nerves. You need to be relaxed to be able to make art and surprise yourself.”
Xolo Maridueña on His ‘Blue Beetle’ Role: “I didn’t audition for this. How do they know that I’m the right person?”
Maridueña was concerned that most of the film would be shot with green screen, but he was pleased to find out that the green screen shots were limited.
‘Barry’ Casting Director: “I think actors sometimes need to be nurtured, and I like nurturing people”
Casting Director Sherry Thomas explains how she works with actors to unveil new approaches to characters in auditions.
Jason Segel on His New Career Approach with ‘Shrinking’: “The actual acting process to me is the most peaceful, simplest time of my life”
Segel spoke about how his approach to his career has changed with projects like ‘Shrinking’
WATCH: SAG Conversations on the Journey of the Working Actor
In this virtual panel working actors – Cristina Rodlo, Joseph David-Jones, Jona Xiao and Rome Flynn – talk shop about auditioning, casting, and landing that next part.
Jesse Eisenberg on His Directorial Debut ‘When You Finish Saving the World’
Eisenberg also shares a valuable lesson he learned about acting from director James Ponsoldt.
Michelle Williams on “Making Bigger Choices” in Her Acting Roles
“In the first part of my career, I was doing sitcoms, TV commercials, soap operas, and I started seeing this other style called naturalism. I wanted that for me, but I had to learn what that was and how to inhabit it,” Williams says.
Henry Winkler on His ‘Barry’ Character: “I could not have done this character years ago”
While many would call Winkler’s performance on Barry masterful (he won an Emmy for the role), he says that he would not have been able to play the character earlier in his career.
‘The Crown’ Casting Director on Finding the Right Royal Actors
In addition to the challenge of casting actors portraying famous figures, casting director Robert Sterne also has to consider the continuity from one actor to the next playing the same role to ensure the transition is as seamless as possible.
Christoph Waltz: “I don’t believe in good actor, bad actor”
Christoph Waltz is blunt about his feelings when it comes to whether an actor is good or bad — he only questions an actor’s competence and ability to pull off a role.
‘Atlanta’ Star Brian Tyree Henry: “I’m still learning that the camera catches everything”
Henry spoke about how “listening” influences his acting choices and why he finds theater so exhilarating.
Harrison Ford on “Being in the Room Where It Happens” and the “First Rule of Acting Club”
Harrison Ford acts less frequently but he notes that he is still doing it because it’s where he feels like he can contribute something.
Paul Dano on How He Created His Character in Steven Spielberg’s ‘The Fabelmans’
Paul Dano speaks about his conversation with Spielberg about the role and how he stepped into the character in the critically-acclaimed film.
Zach Braff Shares Audition Advice He Learned from Florence Pugh: “Have that stuff memorized”
Braff’s first piece of advice from Florence Pugh may seem obvious, but he’s noticed that some actors aren’t aware of it: know your material
Adam Scott on Playing the “Audience Surrogate”: “There is a bit of neutrality that you have to figure out”
Adam Scott shared a memory from filming the first episode that has helped him play audience surrogate characters in many of his projects.
Sally Field on Working with Lee Strasberg: “He was one of the best acting teachers”
Sally Field worked with Actors Studio co-founder Lee Strasberg, who taught her techniques that allowed her to move beyond her early roles.
Elizabeth Banks on Acting ‘Rites of Passage’ and What She Learned from Ray Liotta
Elizabeth Banks argues that the way to “make it” in acting is very different from when she came into the business.