Actor Eddie Marsan on Early Career Stumbles and the Importance of Learning Your Craft
Actor Eddie Marsan speaks about his experiences as an actor, including why he was failing at it early on and what he learned from working with Benicio del Toro.
Bill Hader on ‘Barry’: “When you push the comedy it starts to feel like you’re reaching for something that might not be there”
Hader speaks on how he developed Barry’s newbie acting technique
Mark Hamill: “You don’t need the spotlight… to really enjoy performing”
“Doing voiceover work reminded me how much I enjoy performing without doing a curtain call or being recognized.” – Mark Hamill
Brian d’Arcy James: “The bulk of my time as an actor has been ‘hustle, hustle’ to get to the next thing”
“Cause that’s where you’re challenged and that’s where you grow and that’s what makes it interesting.” – Brian d’Arcy James on Finding Variety in His Roles
Jenna Fischer’s Acting Advice and the Number One Thing Actors Should Do for Their Career
“Part of the test of becoming a working actor is being able to be resilient and work through those road blocks in whatever way you can.” – Jenna Fischer
Joaquin Phoenix on Acting: “Don’t overthink it, let it be what it is”
“If you keep trying to find what’s unique in the moment, then the danger is that you miss that very thing.” – Joaquin Phoenix
Allison Janney on Her Oscar-Winning ‘I, Tonya’ Role: “It was my challenge to bring her to life without judging her”
“I like to play these roles where people… are inspired to want to act. I want to change their lives.” – Allison Janney
Watch: Robert Downey Jr.’s Screen Test for ‘Iron Man’
What’s interesting is it shows Downey playing the character with less humor than his on-screen performance
How Richard Jenkins Unsuccessful Early Years as an Actor Led Him to Where He is Today
“Acting for me is something that is difficult, it’s complicated, and yet it’s very simple. It’s a strange thing.” – Richard Jenkins
Charlie Day on Reprising His Role in ‘Pacific Rim Uprising’ and the Benefits of Writing for Himself
“By the time you finish writing an episode you know so thoroughly what you’re going for that you don’t have to do as much work as an actor” – Charlie Day
Sam Rockwell: “People like to have labels for actors and, the truth is, every actor is a character actor”
“I think in every character, you’re finding a version of yourself.” – Sam Rockwell
Casting Director Leah Daniels Butler on Diversity: “People are just tired of not seeing themselves reflected on television”
“You have to be more broad in your thinking, which is creating more opportunities for everybody.” – Casting Director Leah Daniels Butler
Joaquin Phoenix on the Struggles That He Has as an Actor
“There’s not one approach. It depends on the scene” – Joaquin Phoenix
David Oyelowo: “You sort of need to pummel and plow away for longer, as a black actor, to get a degree of fame”
“I have concerns, I have hopes, you know, and that’s what you want to see in a character.” – David Oyelowo
Wendell Pierce: “I tell people all the time, get some training and become a student of your craft”
“I always said I studied to try to develop an acting muscle. The key I always thought to my career would be diversity.” – Wendell Pierce
Gillian Jacobs on Returning to Theatre and Why Juilliard Wasn’t For Her
“I wanted to challenge myself again. I wanted the rigor of having to be word perfect, of not being able to pull the panic button and say ‘Cut!'” – Gillian Jacobs
Watch: SAG Conversations with David Harbour of ‘Stranger Things’
Harbour talks about working on the series, acting with the mostly-youthful cast, and how the success of the series has impacted his career.
Bill Hader on Becoming an Actor: “I was afraid of failing”
“When I went to the Sundance screening of The Skeleton Twins it was the first time I said, ‘Wow, I’m an actor.'” – Bill Hader
Watch: Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heaughan’s ‘Outlander’ Screen Test
This was Balfe’s final screen test, while co-star Sam Heaughan had already been cast as Jamie.
Malcolm McDowell: “You’re only ever one phone call away from the part that will change your life”
“Comedy is just telling the truth. It’s the situation really that’s comedic. So really, it’s just finding the timing of that, which is where the laughs are.” – Malcolm McDowell