“Art is the master, I am its slave!” – Samuel L. Jackson From article: Creative Inspiration: Books with Actor Quotes. Another article commented about his drive to be excellent: He is intensely disciplined and purposeful, a combination that has made him much in demand as an actor, though his perfectionism has its prickly side, […]
Actors and Performers
Amy Adams on creating both safe and painful roles
Amy Adams has created many roles over the years, with a wide range of human qualities, and has commented about how characters impact her personally. She said in an interview years ago: “I’ve always felt more comfortable [with comedy] because I was scared of drama. “I didn’t really know how to access my emotional side without […]
Elisabeth Shue on pursuing excellence
Elisabeth Shue comments about working on her ambition to play tennis professionally: “I like the road toward excellence. I like that it requires work. Everyday work. And it’s fulfilling to reach a goal of being as good as you can possibly be. And to push yourself.” Shue’s husband, Oscar-winning documentarian Davis Guggenheim (”An Inconvenient Truth”), […]
Summer Bishil on the emotional workout of “Towelhead”
A role that resonated Summer Bishil starred in “Towelhead,” about a Lebanese American girl’s coming of age in Texas during the first Iraq war. In an article about the film (released in 2007), Rachel Abramowitz notes Bishil was 18 when she played 13-year-old Jasira in the film directed by Alan Ball (“Six Feet Under,” “American […]
Kerry Washington on the power of silence
Kerry Washington has talked about using silence as an actor: When I was substitute teaching in New York City public school…I kept getting offered full-time teaching jobs, and I kept going, wow, I could leave this acting thing and have benefits and a regular income, and (laugh) make a difference in the world, and feel good […]