Matthew James Thomas Quotes

With theatre, you have to be ready for anything.

If I read something and respond to the role, that's what happens, and if those happen to be a few comedies in a row, or not, so be it.

For me, the whole idea of performance is not being self-aware, and then sort of just experiencing.

When they came to you for your line, you had to be ready and you had to get it in one.

Work in the theater sharpened my verse and my cinema.

If you're saying the same line 10 times and making it look like you just came up with it, that's acting.

Boxing is a lot of preparation and then improvising, so there are parallels to being an actor.

In a way, as an actor, you do all the preparation and then you want to forget it and just play the scene. As a director, you can't forget it because somebody will remind you that you forgot something. But you can know your plan well enough that you still have a certain amount of freedom.

I'm an actor. I try to play a character in a really cool story, the very best I can.

As an actor, if you were to simplify what acting really is, it's about letting go.

Acting is nothing more or less than playing. The idea is to humanize life.

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

To be an actor you have to be a child.

Acting is very immediate.

Acting is not about dressing up. Acting is about stripping bare. The whole essence of learning lines is to forget them so you can make them sound like you thought of them that instant.

I research every part thoroughly. I talk it out with my actor friends, but then I throw it all away when I get to the set. You have to be spontaneous.

What I've learned about acting is that it needs to be mysterious. If you overthink how a beat needs to be played, it can trip you up.

The day before I work, I don't like to even look at the script and let whatever happens happen on the set. But I do prepare a lot. I'm a big believer in that.

I'm an actor who appreciates direction.

I enjoy working with actors so much and having the chance to be surprised by them.

When you're auditioning, hold on loosely. Work hard on it at home, like you always do. But when you're in the room, let a choice happen to you rather than forcing a choice that's not ready to come. You'll surprise yourself and, hopefully, the people in the room.

I ask all my actors to do two things: I ask them to fail for me, and I ask them to surprise me.

I think the best actors do both. I think they fulfill what you want them to do, in terms of the vision for the whole piece. And then they always bring something that does surprise you and shock you.

I am a natural actor. I try to keep it spontaneous as far as possible. That is my mantra.

I believe, as an actor, I want to tell stories.