David Oyelowo on Memorizing Lines
“The only thing that works is hours and hours of saying them over and over and over again” – David Oyelowo
‘This Is Us’ Star Chrissy Metz on Her Long Road to Success
“When I booked ‘This Is Us’, I had 81 cents in my bank account” – Crissy Metz
Jeff Bridges: “You might magnify those aspects of yourself that work with the character”
“Start with yourself and see what kind of lines up with the character” – Jeff Bridges
How Does Mahershala Ali Get Into Character?
One way Mahershala Ali – especially while working on multiple projects at once -is that he makes music playlists for each individual character
Nick Offerman on His Early Roles and the “Great Lesson” He Learned in How to Treat His Fellow Actors
“As an actor trying to find your spot you’re just generally happy to get a job and keep your SAG insurance.” – Nick Offerman
Watch: Jason Momoa’s War Dance Audition for ‘Game of Thrones’
“On Game of Thrones, [Drogo] doesn’t say much. So how do you convey him? There’s nothing in the script.” – Jason Momoa
Sutton Foster on the Importance of Being Prepared
“A lot of people say, ‘What’s more important: acting, singing or dancing?’ And I say, always acting.” – Sutton Foster
Watch: A SAG Foundation Conversation with Dennis Quaid
Quaid speaks about his career at length and his most memorable roles.
‘Manchester by the Sea’ Star Lucas Hedges on Capitalizing on Early Success
Hedges speaks about starring in the Oscar-winning film and his latest role in an Off Broadway play.
Dev Patel: “I never went to acting school. Everything I’ve learned, I’ve learned from great directors and my co-stars”
“I’m 26 and, like most actors my age, hungry to show emotional range.” – Dev Patel
Michael Keaton on Playing Ray Kroc in ‘The Founder’
“You never do an impression, and yet I felt somewhat obligated to kind of simulate his attitude and his sound” – Michael Keaton on Playing Ray Kroc
Tom Hardy Talks About the “subtleties and complexities and paradoxes” of Playing Villains
“I have to find an identifier, a silhouette which immediately radiates something for me.” – Tom Hardy on Creating a Character
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
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
Viggo Mortensen on How He Became an Actor
“It didn’t occur to me to try acting it until I was, for an actor, relatively pretty old — 22 or 23.” – Viggo Mortensen
Michael Fassbender on Finding a Character: “If I can make them logical to myself, then I apply them, and that’s really it”
Fassbender talks about his parents’ concern about his action aspirations and why he reject the idea that he is an “intelligent actor.”
Scarlett Johansson on Choosing Roles and “Pushing Your Boundaries”
“Breathing life into a character means celebrating and recognizing the fullness of them…” – Scarlett Johansson
Casey Affleck on Finding a Character: “It’s such an internal and complicated and still mysterious process”
“The fun part for me is endlessly talking about why does he do this, or why does he do that, or why doesn’t he? I really get into that.” – Casey Affleck on Rehearsing
Ben Mendelsohn on His ‘Rogue One’ Villain and Finally Getting Work in America
Mendelsohn spoke about playing one of the Empire’s nefarious villains in the latest Star Wars film.