Thoughts and feelings are suspended in a vacuum unless they instigate and feed the selected actions, and it is the characters actions which reveal the character in the play.
Uta HagenRead
Theoretically, the actor ought to be more sound in mind and body than other people, since he learns to understand the psychological problems of human beings when putting his own passions, his loves, fears, and rages to work in the service of the characters he plays. He will learn to face himself, to hide nothing from himself- and to do so takes AN INSATIABLE CURIOSITY ABOUT THE HUMAN CONDITION
Interpretation
What this quote means
Actors need a deep understanding of human emotions to portray characters effectively.
This quote by Uta Hagen emphasizes that actors, in order to authentically represent various characters, must possess a profound understanding of themselves and their own emotions. This self-awareness and psychological insight are essential, as they allow actors to connect deeply with the human condition, fostering an insatiable curiosity that drives their performances and personal growth.
Themes
ActingSelf-AwarenessHuman ConditionPsychologyPerformance
In practice
Example use cases
During acting workshops, discussing this quote can inspire students to explore their self-awareness.
More from Uta Hagen
All quotes →Once in awhile, there's stuff that makes me say, That's what theatre's about. It has to be a human event on the stage, and that doesn't happen very often.
Uta HagenRead
If you want a bourgeois existence, you shouldn't be an actor. You're in the wrong profession.
Uta HagenRead
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