As an actor I am always waiting for my luck to run out.
Tom HanksRead
Even if a story has nothing to do with my life, if I can recognise something of myself in the character and think, 'Oh yeah, that's what I'd do...' Yeah, that's what I look for.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of personal connection and relatability in storytelling.
Tom Hanks expresses the idea that even fictional narratives that do not directly reflect his own experiences can resonate with him if he can find common ground with the characters. This recognition allows him to engage with stories on a deeper level, highlighting the universal nature of certain human experiences and emotions that transcend individual circumstances.
In practice
Using this quote in a literature class to discuss character development and empathy.
As an actor I am always waiting for my luck to run out.
Even the simplest choice can make a jaw-dropping difference in our world.
My kid could get a bad X-ray and I could get a call from the doctor saying I have something growing in my bum and that would change my perspective on everything instantaneously, on what is and what is not important.
Back in World War II, we viewed the Japanese as 'yellow, slant-eyed dogs' that believed in different gods. They were out to kill us because our way of living was different. We, in turn, wanted to annihilate them because they were different. Does that sound familiar, by any chance, to what's going on today?
I think it's better to feel good than to look good.
If you look at romantic comedies as pieces of commerce, the audience is looking for wish fulfillment.
I thought fashion was just the pretext to do images with lots of freedom and get them published in magazines. You could express your point of view, make statements about women and about what you believe in.
I love being onstage. I love the relationship with the audience. I love the letting go, the sense of discovery, the improvising.
My weakness ... is architecture. I think of my work as ephemeral architecture, dedicated to the beauty of the female body.
I do write long, long character notes - family background, history, details of appearance - much more than will ever appear in the novel. I think this is what lifts a book from that early calculated, artificial stage.
The unwelcome November rain had perversely stolen the day's last hour and pawned it with that ancient fence, the night.
As for my voice, it cannot be categorized-and I like it that way, because I sing things that would be considered in the dramatic, mezzo or spinto range. I like so many different kinds of music that I've never allowed myself the limitations of one particular range.
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