I am reading "The Actor Speaks" by Patsy Rodenburg. I'm still at the first few pages and already I got these gems of insight! The following are quotes I culled from the book.
Actors come from all kinds of backgrounds and from around the world. They are all different shapes, sizes and temperaments. But they each share something in common -- they all want to be actors.
Imagine that! The way she puts it, there is no one right shape, size or temperament to be an actor. There is no proper background or ethnicity! The invitation is open, wide open to anyone. The one thing in common is the desire to be an actor -- to experience the range of human emotion and thought and express all of that with truth and clarity on the stage!
This frees me from forever auditioning to be something other than what I am; from comparing my insides to other actors' outsides. It frees me to begin to create and contribute from where I am, from who I am. And that means where we are and who we are is where we all begin to be actors.
Patsy describes her students: "Each one has talent. Everyone is brimming with energy and passion." So... those are the primary ingredients. Talent, energy, passion. Energy, you're born with. That's your birthright. We all were born with amazing energy coming out of our mother's wombs, screaming our entrance into the world.
Now, this energy is either stolen from us or denied by abusive people or life-altering events. This can be regained and this is the thesis of her book "The Second Circle" which I highly recommend everyone to read.
As for the other ingredients: talent and passion, well, those are somethings only God can give. (The truth is, your life energy came from God, too). If you're not sure you have talent or passion, then use your available energy and start praying to get the other two. And when you do get them, do everything you can to stoke and develop them!
Ultimately, as wannabe actors, our goal and reason for training is, as Patsy says, "To speak on-stage with power, clarity and confidence... For me that is what acting is all about."
