Facebook Twitter Instagram
    • Services
    • Aircheck for Actors
    • Demo Reels
    • Audition Prep/Self-Tape Reader
    • Mailing Labels
    • Contribute
    • Industry Links
    • Advertise
    Daily Actor
    Daily Actor YouTube Page Daily Actor FacebookDaily Actor Twitter Daily Actor Instagram Daily Actor Pinterest
    • Acting Tips
      • Actors on Acting
      • Advice Columns
      • Acting Quotes
      • Audition Tapes
      • How To Become An Actor
      • How to Memorize Lines
    • Monologues
      • Monologues from Plays
      • Monologues from Movies
      • Monologues from Musicals
      • Comedic Monologues
      • Dramatic Monologues
      • One Minute Monologues
      • Monologues for Women
      • Monologues for Men
      • Monologues for Teens
      • Monologues for Kids
      • All Monologues
    • Acting Resources
      • Acting Resume
        • Acting Resume Templates
      • Acting Classes
        • Los Angeles Acting Classes
        • Las Vegas Acting Classes
        • San Diego Acting Classes
      • Acting Schools and Colleges
        • Los Angeles
        • New York
        • BFA Acting Schools
      • Casting Websites
      • Headshot Photographers
        • Los Angeles
        • New York City
        • Headshot Printing
      • Acting Techniques
        • What is Method Acting?
      • Stage Directions
      • Demo Reels: Everything You Need to Know
    • Interviews
      Featured

      Interview: Donna Benedicto: “Not every character needs to fit into a box”

      Recent

      Interview: Donna Benedicto: “Not every character needs to fit into a box”

      May 1, 2023
      Jesmille-Darbouze-A-Dolls-House-Broadway-Interview

      Interview: Jesmille Darbouze on Her Role in ‘A Doll’s House’ on Broadway, Working Without Props and Why She Almost Stopped Acting

      April 27, 2023

      Interview: Lilah Fitzgerald Talks “Dream Come True” Roles in ‘Monster High’ and ‘Lucky Hank’

      April 13, 2023
    • Actor Blogs
    • Reviews
      • Movies
      • Theater
      • Books
      • Products
    • Actor Services
      • Airchecks
      • Demo Reels
      • Website Design
      • Mailing Labels
    Daily Actor
    Home » Actor Tips » Patricia Clarkson on How She Finds a Character and Why She Doesn’t “Dwell on the Script”
    Actor Tips

    Patricia Clarkson on How She Finds a Character and Why She Doesn’t “Dwell on the Script”

    Chris McKittrickBy Chris McKittrickJune 21, 2019No Comments2 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

    “I cling to one thing the character has said, and I think of it all day. And once I feel the emotional life, then I start to look at the words.” – Patricia Clarkson

    Emmy Award-winning actress Patricia Clarkson first gained recognition from a series of impressive performances in Far From Heaven, HBO’s Six Feet Under, Dogville, The Staton Agent, and Sharp Objects. In just a few short years she became a go-to actress for powerful performances in key roles.

    Perhaps her greatest acclaim has come for her performance in the celebrated HBO miniseries Sharp Objects as Adora, a role which she won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress — Series, Miniseries or Television Film. She recently was interviewed by actress Michelle Williams (her co-star in The Station Agent) for Variety.

    During the interview, Williams asked Clarkson how her thinking about a role evolves over the course of a production. Clarkson answered:

    What’s most important for me is — with enormous respect for writers — not to dwell on the script. The lines will come. It’s most important that I have an emotional center of this character. That I know the character’s demons and angels; you’re going to need both at the drop of a hat. And a director can’t help you with that often. I call it walking the part. I cling to one thing the character has said, and I think of it all day. And once I feel the emotional life, then I start to look at the words.

    With Adora, I realized that I couldn’t really think too far out with her. I had to take her in an unusual way as an actor. I had to take her one day, one week, one episode at a time. It’s very emotional for me to talk about it because the depth of where she goes is unforgiving and unforgivable. So the night before, I tried these dark journeys I was on; I’d stay as high as I could. It’s odd. I tried not to sink because I knew so much was coming that I tried to stay almost vain about her, keep the vanity about her until I got on the set and then let it all fall. Some people would say it’s a French way to work.

    Related

    Previous ArticleBryan Cranston on a Terrible Audition and How a Role on a Soap Made Him a Better Actor
    Next Article Marco DelVecchio on Playing Racing Legend Mario Andretti in Emmy Contender “The Sound of Passion”

    Related Posts

    Florence Pugh Zach Braff Audition Advice

    Zach Braff Shares Audition Advice He Learned from Florence Pugh: “Have that stuff memorized”

    May 26, 2023
    adam scott in party down

    Adam Scott on Playing the “Audience Surrogate”: “There is a bit of neutrality that you have to figure out”

    May 24, 2023
    sally field lee strasberg

    Sally Field on Working with Lee Strasberg: “He was one of the best acting teachers”

    May 22, 2023
    Add A Comment

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Popular Pages
    Become An Actor | Acting Tips | Acting Quotes
    Acting Resume | Resume Template
    Headshot Photographers
    Los Angeles | New York
    Print Your Headshots
    Acting Schools & Colleges
    Los Angeles | New York
    Monologues
    Movies | Plays | Comedic | Dramatic
    Men | Women | Teens | Kids
    • Contact
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Resource Listings
    • Write A Column
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy

    Disclaimer: Daily Actor at times uses affiliate links to sites like Amazon.com, streaming services, and others. Affiliate links provides compensation to Daily Actor which helps us remain online, giving you the resources and information actors like you are looking for.

    © 2023 Daily Actor

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.