Anastasia Griffith Quotes

Costume is a huge part of getting into character. Your body soaks in what you're wearing, and you turn into someone else.

So the mask was just really easy, I've got to be honest. And it was great actually because it really allowed you to get into the character a little bit more maybe than without it, if that makes sense.

I'm an actor, in particular, that likes to have a mask or something that can help me distance myself from the character. Like the moustache or an accent.

If you think about what acting is supposed to be, my job is to disappear.

It's more enjoyable when I'm disguised in some way; stepping into someone else's shoes is part of the reason why I became an actor.

I'm always happier and a better actor when I can really lose myself in a character and become somebody else.

When I played Candy Darling in 'I Shot Andy Warhol,' that was easy to play that part. They made me into a woman: I'm in heels; I'm waxed. I'm gonna find the femininity and lay on the bed and take the voice of an old movie star.

As far as 'Jane Pittman,' I don't know that I could verbalize, to this day, what I felt once I got into that role. I did a tremendous amount of research. I need to feel as though I am in the person's skin.

I love disappearing. That's what acting is. For me it's about putting on a persona, stepping into a pair of shoes. It's my face, but I'm using it as a tool for that spirit, that character.

I love acting and really taking on another person, another life.

As actors, we get to hide. You can change your hair and your accent, and it's not you. You have tricks, these masks.

I never act my characters - I am them.

What I like about acting is that you can be a different person every day.

I like roles that people don't recognize me in.

In the theater, it's a visceral and physical response because you move around so much. You have to do something physical to pull you in. On TV or in movies, everything is so small. You can just lock into a character and ease yourself into that way.

With films, you completely immerse yourself in a character, get into who they are, live it and then release it.

In every character that you play... I mean, I don't think I'll ever be the type of actor or performer per se who transforms, you know? Like Claire Danes transforms into Temple Grandin - I'm not gonna do that.

I'm really not interested in showing me or playing me. My gift as an actor, given to me, is to be able to become other people.

Good actresses can often accomplish miracles, and it is possible to be someone you've never been or will be. But in a sitcom, there's no time.

Getting all dressed up and putting on fancy clothes - all of that's a great thing, but oddly, it doesn't really have a lot to do with acting most of the time.

They have become part of us in that if we get dressed up as them, we don't actually have to have a script. You can just become them. You just become nervy.

I love to act because I love trying on other people's skin.

I got into acting for the chance to be many different people and many different characters. I love hiding in a role and doing the research. If there is an opportunity to change my body, I will change my body. I'll slip in and disguise myself in a role. That is a really big treat for me.

I love playing 'Madame Vastra.' Although I do suffer, spending three-and-a-half hours in make-up every morning to have her lizard skin put on. I was so excited the first day when we did the make-up test, but after six hours, I was like, 'Can we finish now?'

It's always fun messing around with costumes and stuff. You know there is an element of acting that you've got to dress-up; that's part of it.