Actors on Acting Archives

Zac Efron Takes Advice from Dennis Quaid: “Play as many different types of roles as possible”

So let me get this straight — Zac Efron, that guy who was in all those High School Musical movies and 17 Again, has spent the last several years starring in indie films? Okay, I actually knew that already, but it’s still pretty surprising considering he probably still had five or so years left of milking teen heartthrob movies but instead chose to do more under the radar projects like Liberal Arts, The Paperboy, and At Any Price.

Ben Foster on Getting Cast in ‘Orphans’, Looking Up to Daniel Radcliffe and Why His Mom is Worried About Him

Harry Potter was actually Ben Foster’s inspiration for doing a play on Broadway. Well, technically it was Daniel Radcliffe who gave him the push to do Lyle Kessler’s Orphans.

Robert Downey, Jr. on Winning an Oscar: “I know it’s going to happen… That’s just a fact”

In his in-depth interview with Robert Downey, Jr. for GQ, correspondent Chris Heath ends with asking Downey if he aspires to win an Oscar. Naturally, the twice-nominated Downey responds with the familiar “it doesn’t really matter to me” answer we’re used to hearing from actors.

Homeland’s David Harewood is “an overnight success that was 25 years in the making”

David Harewood isn’t bitter that he was killed off Showtime’s hit series, Homeland. In fact, he credits the show with turning his career around.

The First Time Jon Hamm Met Bryan Cranston: “We were simply two actors, in costume and out of context”

Looks like we’re not the only ones obsessed with Bryan Cranston’s portrayal of Walter White on AMC’s Breaking Bad. Cranston was recently named one of TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the world. To write about his achievements, TIME landed no less than Jon Hamm to talk up Cranston’s talent.

Alexander Skarsgard on ‘Disconnect’, ‘True Blood’ and Taking Risks In Front of the Camera: “If you’re not comfortable, you’re going to play it safe”

Despite being on HBO’s True Blood for more than six seasons, Alexander Skarsgard is still enjoying his time playing vampire, Eric Northman.

Peter Dinklage: “I expected the entertainment business to see only my size and nothing else, so I wanted to pretend my size wasn’t who I was at all”

With millions of fans tuning in each week, Game of Thrones is among the most popular television series HBO has ever had. One of the most compelling characters on the show is Tyrion Lannister, who is portrayed by Peter Dinklage

Alan Tudyk on Playing Racist Baseball Manager in ’42’: “It would leave a stain on your mood, and put you into a bad mood into the next day”

In a movie that deals with racial prejudice like 42, naturally the roles most people would want to play are the characters who overcome racism, like Jackie Robinson (portrayed by Chadwick Boseman) and Branch Rickey (portrayed by Harrison Ford).

Bradley Cooper: “I surround myself with people who are honest with me”

To me, 2012 in film marked a year in which a number of actors revealed to the world that they could really, well, act. For example, prior to Silver Linings Playbook, Bradley Cooper was best known for his good looks and starring in comedies like The Hangover movies and Wedding Crashers and romantic comedies. But Cooper proved his chops in Silver Linings Playbook and was even nominated for an Oscar.

Robert Downey Jr. on How He Became Iron Man and How Much Longer He’ll Play Tony Stark

Though now it seems that it would be wrong for anyone else but Robert Downey, Jr. to play Tony Stark, when Iron Man was going through casting Downey was only a few years removed from a very public battle with drug addiction and hadn’t been a high profile name in even longer.

Constantine Maroulis on His Lead Role in Broadway’s ‘Jekyll & Hyde’: “I know that people want to sort of tear me down”

The original 1997-2001 Broadway production of the musical Jekyll & Hyde was certainly not shy about stunt celebrity casting. Musicians Jack Wagner and Sebastian Bach were two of the lead replacements, though none other than actor/musician/lifeguard legend David Hasselhoff was in the lead role at the end of the production’s run.

Alec Baldwin on Shia LaBeouf’s Exit from ‘Orphans’ and His Preference for Theater Over Film

Reviews haven’t made it out yet on Broadway’s Orphans, the Lyle Kessler play that has unfortunately become most notable for the behind-the-scenes squabbles that led to the ouster of Shia LaBeouf from one of the lead roles, but star Alec Baldwin is still doing all he can to promote it.

Jeremy Piven on Retuning to TV with ‘Mr. Selfridge’ and What His Job is as an Actor

After starring as Hollywood agent Ari Gold on eight seasons of Entourage, Jeremy Piven didn’t expect that his next major role would be in another television series. Yet Piven stars as real-life turn-of-the-twentieth-century department store tycoon Harry Selfridge in Mr. Selfridge on PBS’ Masterpiece Classic.

John C. McGinley: “If you can figure out where you fit into any particular story, you’ll be okay”

Some actors shrug off a label like “character actor” as something that somewhat minimizes their contribution to a production. However, veteran actor John C. McGinley is not one of those actors.

Jason Bateman on His Dramatic Role in ‘Disconnect’ and How He Prepares for Emotional Scenes

In Disconnect, the usually very funny Jason Bateman plays a career obsessed lawyer who is unaware that his son is being cyber bullied.

Ed Weeks Talks About His Audition for ‘The Mindy Project’: “The part of Jeremy was initially written as a ‘Bradley Cooper’ type”

Ed Weeks has had the opportunity to grow along with his character, ladies’ man Dr. Jeremy Reed, on FOX’s The Mindy Project. But before his audition, Weeks wasn’t sure he would be able to land the part on Mindy Kaling’s sitcom.

John Slattery on His ‘Mad Men’ Crying Scenes and How Actors Have to Trick Themselves Into “Experiencing All This Horrible” Stuff

John Slattery faced one of his biggest challenges so far while playing Mad Men’s Roger Sterling. Roger had to break down over the death of his shoe-shine guy.