If you are over 30 years of age, you may remember a programme called Roseanne. It was an American sitcom that was massive in the ’80s and ’90s.
The programme centred on the life of Roseanne and her family. Roseanne’s sister was played by an actress called Laurie Metcalf. She played the role very well and I always liked her as an actress.
Well, as luck would have it, Laurie is appearing in the West End at the moment in one of my favourite plays, Long Day’s Journey Into Night. This is a classic written by Eugene O’Neill, the American playwright. I have always loved this play. It’s a heavy drama that all actors should read and see.
The performances were very good but Laurie was in a league of her own. The funny thing about being in a sitcom is that you don’t get to see the other sides of the actors’ ability until they branch out.
You have to see Laurie in this role. She is truly outstanding. It’s a very difficult part as she plays a paranoid middle-aged woman who is addicted to morphine. The play actually reflects O’Neill’s own life. In fact, he did not allow for this play to be published until after his death. It’s that autobiographical. When you see the play, you will understand why – it’s a very dysfunctional family.
This play is very difficult material for an actor to navigate, so go and watch it. You will learn a lot.
Last week, Scarlett Johansson got to put her hands in the cement at Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.
Does she deserve it?
I say absolutely!
Scarlett is a very talented Method actress. There is a simplicity about her work. She makes it look effortless and easy, but actually she is doing very complicated work underneath it all.
The first time I saw her work was in the film Lost in Translation directed by Sofia Coppola, daughter of Francis Ford Coppola who directed The Godfather. Francis liked to work with Method actors, and this way of working certainly rubbed off on Sofia. She beautifully directed Scarlett in a very understated but utterly truthful performance.
For that one performance alone, I would put her on the Walk of Fame.
Gary Oldman – recently seen in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (a film I highly recommend you see) has been awarded with a career tribute award at the Gotham Independent Film Awards.
Here is Gary’s advice to actors, which is something I tell my students all the time!
“ If I have any advice for young people or young actors, do your homework, know your lines, and get there on time, actually get there early!”
I read an article about Denzel Washington’s Method approach to acting on his new movie with Ryan Reynolds and thought you would like to read it.
I keep telling people all the best actors use The Method – and here is the proof.
Ryan is being given a masterclass by Denzel on The Method, whilst actually filming. In my experience, you don’t want to leave it that late before learning it!
On Wednesday I met with Dev Patel at The Groucho Club. In case you don’t know Dev, he played the young male Indian lead in ‘Slumdog Millionaire’.
It was interesting because very quickly it became apparent to me that he possessed many of the traits successful actors demonstrate.
He was enthusiastic, positive, polite and a joy to be around.
You benefited from being in his company. How many people can you say that about?
This is something I bang on about all the time. It’s not enough just to be a good actor you have to be charismatic and the best way to develop charisma is to cheer up. Be energetic and happy, it’s often construed as charisma.
People don’t want to be around pessimistic people with a chip on their shoulder. If you were at a party and came across such an individual you would run a mile.
It’s no different in the acting industry. As an actor you have meetings with agents, casting directors and directors and you need to develop your personality so that they are attracted to you. Simple as that.
Last week, I was invited to a special screening of a new film called Barney’s Version starring Paul Giamatti (famous for his role in the film Sideways).
Firstly, this is an amazing film, and Paul turns in an Oscar-winning performance. I predict he will most definitely be nominated for this performance. The film isn’t released in the UK until the end of January 2011.
Paul plays opposite a number of big actors in the film, including Dustin Hoffman.
I got to hang out with Paul after the screening. I was very curious to learn how he got on with Dustin Hoffman. Dustin is renowned for his method performances, and I wondered how he approached this role opposite Paul.
The response was very interesting indeed.
Paul said that working with Dustin Hoffman is like working with Picasso. He said, ‘’Dustin would tear up the scene and put it all back together again, and when they did the final takes it was a completely different type of scene.’’ He goes on, ‘’The man is 73 but has an immense energy. He would stay in character during filming which had its funny moments. His character is a lecherous ex-cop who tells dirty jokes all the time. In between filming takes he would tell dirty jokes to the cast and crew.’’
Hoffman was using tried and tested method acting techniques.
It’s interesting that a man in his seventies, who is regarded as one of the best actors of his generation, still works so hard and diligently at his craft. He no longer NEEDS to – it’s because he WANTS to.
A true acting artist – as is Paul.
I urge you to go and see this amazing film on its first weekend of release in January in the UK. Films like this need to be encouraged and the first weekend is so important for smaller films such as this one.
Send a message to Hollywood that we want to see more great, in-depth, thoughtful work like this by seeing it the weekend of its release.
One of the unsung qualities of successful actors is ‘helpfulness’.
Time and time again I have observed this trait up close and personal, with great actors.
It’s easy to dismiss this trait as perhaps not that important but believe me, the industry loves helpful people and as a result they get more work.
Recently, Johnny Depp visited a primary school in London because a young girl wrote to him and asked him to visit her school. She had heard he was filming Pirates of the Caribbean close by.
To her surprise he turned up!
My students and I will be appearing in a new Channel 4, fly-on-the-wall , reality programme called Seven Days. You may have heard of it – it’s being heavily promoted. One of my students (Samantha Rowley) is participating in the programme and as a result they have done some filming at the studio.
The first episode goes out tomorrow evening.
Also, the graduating students who are on my Ultimate Acting Programme are performing in my exclusive showcase event to Casting Directors and Agents tomorrow evening. It’s a big deal for all involved.
Channel 4 will be following the events as they unfold up until the showcase. Then they have to wait outside the exclusive members’ club venue until it’s over, as no cameras are allowed in at that point.
I will let you know how it goes…well actually I guess you can tune into Seven Days over the coming weeks and see for yourself.
