Jane Elliot Quotes

I learn the whole script before I show up.

Actors have to be there and do the work, and that's enough.

As far as acting goes, you get to a certain point where, I think, everyone can do the job, and it comes down to a level of commitment. I think sometimes all you have to do is show up.

I'm an actor, and I love the art of creating a character.

When I am rehearsing for a play, I try to read nothing that might distract my concentration from the work in progress.

When you get to the point where you know the material so well and you know the character so well that you can just sort of play off of whoever your reader is - that's the best feeling at an audition.

Acting is real important to me. I love it, and it's something I care about.

I take a script and mull over it and underline the bits I want to emphasize. When I go to the set, I know exactly what I want to do.

Roles make the actor.

In theater, you have a rehearsal period and you know just who to be.

Good acting is about being as natural and calm as possible. These days producers have such definite ideas that you have to be prepared to do whatever they ask.

I was a hard worker, and I always knew my lines.

Preparation is definitely important, but it depends on the kinds of roles I do. Like, I completely identify with my character in 'Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani.' I had to be myself and I didn't have to actually prepare for it.

Memorizing dialogue has always come easy and quickly to me. My wife Eileen is also very helpful. She gives me choices, and asks me questions, and runs my lines with me.

I think my best teacher and my best study was theater in general. It taught me a lot of patience and a lot of hard work, and I think that theater teaches you that you've got to know your stuff because you only get one chance.

I will never leave the theater. My heart is there, and I love being on stage 8 times a week.

I learn the lines and pray to God.

I'm not used to being asked what I want to talk about. That's why I'm an actress. Get told what to do, stand on the mark, say your words, wear this, look this way, look that way.

I was on 'Murder She Wrote' with Angela Lansbury. She was fantastic... she was lovely to everyone, she was always on time, prepared. Whereas when I worked with Bob Hope, he didn't know his lines. He had to have these huge big cards... he hardly said two words to me all day.

If I were to play somebody who ran a fish and chip shop, I would not work in a fish and chip shop for three months. Staring at chips is not going to help me in my performance.

'Olive Kitteridge' is the only thing that I've done on camera where we had a day of rehearsal before we shot, and I'm so glad that that happened, because I was so nervous.

Know your lines and don't bump into the furniture.

To do theater you need to block off a hunk of time.

As an actor, I am meant to dabble with different themes and genres.

When you're on set, you have to perform and look the part.