Annette Bening Quotes

Singing is the rawest thing. Having been naked in films or naked in photo shoots, it's nothing compared to singing. It's absolute nakedness. You are stripped bare! It's very strange. Acting seems much easier, in fact, because you are putting on a costume - whereas here, you are taking everything off.

All acting is nudity. It's all vulnerable - and a little bit scary.

I want to seem completely bare. Especially when I'm reading for a role. I want to reveal myself in the audition room. That's where I'm happiest.

I don't think that there's much hiding that actors can do. If you're doing good work, you're showing a part of yourself to someone.

I'm more comfortable revealing myself than hiding behind metaphors. I respond to artists who reveal something of themselves.

Having grown up so familiar with creating a pleasing facade, I now end up compelled to reveal things inside and say, 'Okay, now you really see me. Do you still love me?' And then it's never enough; it always has to be total self-revelation.

Acting deals with very delicate emotions. It is not putting up a mask. Each time an actor acts he does not hide; he exposes himself.

Me in my music and onstage - that's me without any fears of judgement; that's me when I'm shining.

I think the best acting is when you allow yourself to be kind of vulnerable in the moment.

I didn't go to drama school or anything, and I learned on the job. And it's nice to have the chance to pretend to be other people. As a singer, though, I feel there's much more of me in that. I've written the songs, I'm singing them, I'm exposing my feelings.

The body cannot lie. You cannot be somebody else onstage, no matter how good of an actor or dancer or singer you are. When you open your arms, move your finger, the audience knows who you are, you know.

When you're playing a romantic version of a real person, you're playing a version of the truth.

As an actor, you're naked emotionally; you're revealing yourself emotionally.

It's a funny thing about rap, that when you say 'I' into the microphone, it's like a public confession. It's very strange.

They lyrical content has grown more introspective and less abstract. I don't know if that's good or bad... Sometimes it feels a little raw to be putting so much of myself out there.

I open myself up every time I walk on screen and give you everything that I am. There are parts of me that are in every movie that I've done. That to me is what my job is.

Pain is pain, joy is joy - you can't avoid bringing pieces of yourself into a role.

For 'Blue Jasmine,' I made a decision not to wear any make up in the last shot of the film, as I felt like she had such a mask on - I thought it would be a good idea to leave her with nothing and become completely transparent.

Writing is a very intimate thing, especially when you write lyrics and sing them in front of someone for the first time. It's like a really embarrassing situation. To me, singing is almost like crying, and you have to really know someone before you can start crying in front of them.

For all the acting you can do, the actual soul of someone does somehow permeate through their work.

Anything that loosens you up and makes you freer is good, because that's what acting and performing is all about - being free. It gives you a better connection to the audience.

I just love actors, and I've always loved actors. I empathize with their job. Everyone thinks it's easy, and it ain't. To be that vulnerable and brave on camera is tough. The more they reveal themselves, the more we love them, but there's a lot of truth in what they're showing.

I think you always have to use certain parts of yourself in any role.

It's the most personal thing that I do is sing. Because I can't tell a lie. I want them to know exactly what I'm feeling.

With my fan base, I'm just vulnerable. I'm very transparent and vulnerable.