Alice McDermott Quotes

As an actor, you don't really have a say or a voice in what the conversation of the show is going to be. So, as an actor, I'm just trying to make sense of why the character is making these choices, and somehow, in that way, you can sympathize or root, at least not detest, what this person is doing. That's, at least, my job in telling that story.

I'm not interested in playing characters who see the world through my prism; I think the journey of understanding any character is to see how they tick and how they differ from you.

In prose, leaps of logic can be made while the protagonist thinks about things and arrives at conclusions. Even with voiceover, there's no real way of having an inner voice without it taking over the entire story.

There are very few works of fiction that take you inside the heads of all characters. I tell my writing students that one of the most important questions to ask yourself when you begin writing a story is this: Whose story is it? You need to make a commitment to one or perhaps a few characters.

I try to begin with a strong grasp of my characters. Even if it's schematic, I need it clear in my head who these people are.

I try mainly to just focus on character and what my character's point of view is, with each person, and try to figure out story.

If you can find a way your character moves, you know more about your character than you'd ever dream.

From a writer's standpoint, each character and story presents its own unique challenges and delights. I'm deeply curious about all of my characters, and I love peeling away their layers to see what's underneath their skin, or secreted deep within their hearts.

The great thing about writing is that you always put yourself in the shoes of the character. If you're doing it right, you can see into the heart of all your characters. Usually, when there's a writing problem, it's because you aren't doing that.

I locate that special problem in a character and then try to understand it. That's the genesis of all my work.

I would say I have sort of a natural gift for character, and following one person's point of view at a time, and dialogue, but I'm not naturally good at strong plot.

Never argue with your characters; they know themselves better than you do.

My school of thought with going into a character is that you have to understand where they come from, and you have to empathize with them.

When a script moves me, I find that I immediately understand a character. Of course not completely, but I do understand.

I think the idea is to try and understand everything about the characters and where the character is coming from, from their point of view, why they say what they do. And not, 'Oh, but I would never say that. Why does the character say that?' But then making it as personal as possible.

I think when you play a role, you always have to be a defense attorney for that character.

The scene is never really about moving the story forward on 'Breaking Bad.' That's the functional veneer of the scene, but it's always about what's going on with the characters.

Usually when I'm trying to establish character, I try and find out where they live.

I do think you need to understand a character's motivation and perspective.

My job is to see the world through the character's eyes.

When you're doing a series, you're really in a zone. You're thinking about those characters and their situations in a free-floating way all the time. They live with you all the time. So it's just as natural as breathing to be having ideas and thinking about what they're thinking about.

I think you've got to understand your character and where they're coming from.

An actor's only perception is of their character, and they're looking at one piece. A writer is looking at the entire story. They're going to see things that the writer didn't see because they're only looking through their lens.

If we get caught up in a story, it's because we've started to care about the characters, and that can only happen if we've moved beneath the surface.

The fun thing about doing origin stories is you are introducing the audience to characters.