Emily Mortimer Quotes

I become a better actor after I step on a stage in front of, like, 500 people when it's just me, a microphone and my guitar. You don't get as nervous walking into a room in front of 3 or 4 people and to do a scene or to walk on a set. You gain confidence.

No actor who's any good can say truthfully to themselves, 'Yeah, I'm good; I've got this sorted.'

I've always been fairly confident in my acting.

I always thought I was a pretty terrible actor.

I think if actors don't think of themselves as funny in real life they think they can't do comedy.

Can I be a leading man? I don't believe myself to be; I don't think that I am, but I'm in this place as a performer where I think about how to make things smaller, more subtle.

I'm - you know, I'm not a good actor.

I can't say I'm confident in my abilities as an actor.

I never prepare. I think that's completely overrated. It's a very simple job. All you have to do is hit this bright mark, stand in the right spot and say the line. So I don't really believe in preparation.

I lack confidence as an actor.

Stage is definitely my home first and foremost - I still feel like I'm yet to earn my stripes on set.

The first time I thought I should be an actor was in school. I thought, 'At least this is something for which I won't have to study.' But I've realised that an actor needs to be constantly unsure about what he's doing and about what's going on around him. The moment you think you've nailed it, you're dead.

I like doing small parts, because I don't feel I'm that practised in acting. It's like making baby steps towards a bigger goal.

As an actor, when you are called upon to do a job, you are oftentimes convinced you can't do it. You say to yourself 'I don't have the talent for this; they are going to figure out I'm a fraud.' And then you watch how the others do it, and fake your confidence.

Every audition is different, but I get incredibly nervous and insecure and worked up for however long I have to prep - that's when I get to spin. But you're not allowed to spin once you enter the room. Doubt really can't enter the room when you're auditioning - unless it's part of the character.

For me, I love auditioning.

The big gap between the ability of actors is confidence.

The first thing you have to get used to in any kind of acting is the ability to make a fool of yourself. If you haven't learnt how to make a fool of yourself, you shouldn't be on the boards. That's absolutely what it's all about.

I'm comfortable in front of the camera, but I can't act.

I definitely loved going on stage, I loved the nervous feeling and the performance and the doing-ness of it. It always felt kind of natural and inevitable and logical.

I don't feel like, 'Now I'm a great actress.'

I am comfortable performing now. I love it!

I don't possess a lot of self-confidence. I'm an actor so I simply act confident every time I hit the stage.

I like auditioning! A lot of people hate it, but I like it.

On stage, you have to have incredible confidence, or you would stop doing it. But I don't think I will ever get to the point where I go, 'I know exactly what I am doing,' and I don't think I want to.