Lupita Nyong'o Quotes

When I do comedy, it's not like I'm trying to be funny for folks; I look for the honesty in it. With James Early in 'Dreamgirls,' it was the honesty of it: it was the reality of the moment. You know, I don't know what makes me play sometimes. I really don't. I just do what I do. And that's what I did for 'Sliders,' and that's how I got the job.

On the stage, you alone hold the key, and on the night you have to trust that the director has inspired you enough to take the material and run with it.

When I rehearse, it ends up doing more harm than good. I think I work a little bit better when it's right off the bat. Mostly, I try to wrap my head around a role as much as I can without rehearsing and then kind of make it as fresh as possible on the day.

Acting is not about anything romantic, not even fantasy, although you do create fantasy.

Once I'm on set, the only thing I'm really interested in is being in the room. Being present. And trusting that what I've done is sufficient, and I'm also trusting that I've also left room for magic.

Essentially, I'm untrained, so I just go with my imagination and try to put myself as solidly as I can into the shoes of whatever person I'm going to be playing.

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.

As an actor, the only thing you have is your instinct and your imagination.

I personally don't like to rehearse so much. I really sort of trust my instinct.

I think that different actors go about their preparation differently, but when it comes to acting, I use my imagination.

What I really like doing is storytelling, finding the body language that is necessary for the story. And when I'm doing it and it's working, I'm thrilled.

You've got to trust your instincts, your judgment and trust the storytelling that came before and the quality of the acting with the emotion.

I think people who are regarded as better actors must have better instincts because, at the end of the day, once they say 'action,' it's you who has to do it right. You can do all the research and preparation or none at all, but it's your instincts that tell you, 'No, I'll do it like this.'

When I over-prepare, I try to let it all go and forget all about it when the camera rolls, so I can just be present with the other actors and allow what's going to happen to happen without too much preconception.

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

I was that kid who was always practicing crying or falling asleep or being angry or being excited. I was that weirdo in my room making faces.

And when I go to see plays, I marvel at how people can do that. I've done it all my life, but I still find it mystical.

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

Music is extremely intuitive, which acting too in a different way.

Acting is just a process of relaxation, actually. Knowing the text so well and trusting that the instinct and the subconscious mind, whatever you want to call it, is going to take over.

There's no great mystery to acting. It's a very simple thing to do but you have to work hard at it. It's about asking questions and using your imagination.

Acting really suited me because I could connect as an actor to emotion.

I have learned a lot from jazz. I compare good acting to jazz music. The more you study and prepare as an actor, the more equipped you are to live in the moment. Just like the gifted musicians in my dad's quartet, it takes a courageous actor to be free.

Acting is an expression of imagination. No firsthand knowledge is necessary.

You have to run, an awful lot, on instinct. Even on 'Veep,' it's not like you get weeks of rehearsal to break out what's going on in the scenes.