Page 57 - Demo

MOST MAGAZINE - ISSUE 75 57MOSTMAGAZINEMOST MAGAZINE - ISSUE 75Q: YOUR PERFORMANCES ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR AUTHENTICITY. WHAT STEPS DO YOU TAKE DURING THE RESEARCH PHASE TO ACHIEVE THIS?A: I try not to leave any stone unturned when I%u2019m researching a character. I%u2019ve got to find out as much about the character as I can and the situation that they%u2019re in to be able to put myself in that situation and be authentic. The only way I can do that is to blend the experience that I%u2019m going through as the character with my own experiences. That%u2019s how I make it real. And that%u2019s why acting is amazing. Everybody%u2019s going to do it differently.Q: HAVING STARRED IN BOTH CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED FEATURE FILMS AND HIT TV SHOWS, WHAT DO YOU FIND MOST FULFILLING ABOUT EACH MEDIUM, AND HOW DO THEY CHALLENGE YOU IN DIFFERENT WAYS?A: I like the community that develops on a film project. I like the family that develops between you and the other actors, the director, the producers, and the grips. I like a set where I feel comfortable and people feel comfortable. Ultimately, you%u2019ll have a better film and better performances out of the actors. I%u2019ve heard that some think a lead actor is just the guy that speaks the most or has the most lines. But that%u2019s not what I was taught. I was taught that the lead actor has to step on a set and lead. He has to be a leader. Lead the set, the direction, how people treat each other, and how he treats others. Creating that environment is important to me, and one thing I like about shooting films. I think what I like about TV is that it%u2019s much faster paced. You have to show up ready to go. Most of the time you have no rehearsals, so you really have to be thinking on your feet. You%u2019ve got to be strong in your choices. You%u2019ve got to be bendable in case the director wants something else. You have to come in with a particular viewpoint and give them what you have and then change if you need to change. It%u2019s very quick, so you have to be ready to dance from the get-go.I try not to leave any stone un- turned. The only way I can be authentic is to blend the charac- ter%u2019s experience with my own.