Quotes About Acting

I never even was in any of my high school plays. I mean, look at me. What role could they give me - the tooth fairy?

I know that my look is more 'toothpaste model' as opposed to artsy, which sucks because I can play those roles.

I was shooting a mini-series for Sundance/BBC, called 'Top of the Lake,' that was shot by Jane Campion, who's a beautiful native New Zealander and famous film director. The role I was playing was very intense, and they shaved half my hair off. So, I looked like this post-apocalyptic character.

I simply don't want to enter the rat race. I like doing movies because I like acting and not because I want to reach the top.

Acting is about portraying something... that dedication or learning the script of it is really important in really getting to know a topic.

On a personal level, I don't exactly thrive on the idea of being known as the guy who goes topless - because I also took my shirt off on 'American Horror Story: Coven' - but I think in 'The Last Kingdom,' it's mainly done in the right way.

I don't regret being topless in certain things, but there were some things in 'EastEnders' where there was no reason for me to be topless.

When you have to get into the character each morning, give it your voice, your face, it was torture.

It's really fun to go back and forth from acting projects to directing projects. You don't have as much responsibility when you're acting, but you have more fun. But then you miss having that responsibility, and so you go back and torture yourself and make a movie.

I loved performing in the 'High School Musical' movies - that didn't seem like work - but the gym felt like torture!

I think I'm good at looking moody. I'm not much good at analysing myself, but I tend to fit the strange and tortured characters.

The idea that every time you do a film you're supposed to be tortured confuses me. I mean, guys who say, 'Oh, it's really tough, my character is really suffering' -come on. For us, even in the rotten ones we've had a good time. I don't think you have to suffer.

Tortured characters are, I think, an actor's dream.

I've never pursued a role. I always hear stories about actors going after parts and I'm, like, 'How do they do that?' It seems so weird. It seems like a total myth or something.

To play any character, you have to have a total understanding of why they do what they do.

Doing a musical is not just acting. It's total theater. When you have to justify the enormous projection of energy it takes to just go into song and dance, you realized why it's such a humbling experience every time you go into a show.

I studied political science, and when I fell into acting in college - it was just a total fluke that I became an actor. I ended up changing my degree and went for a double major and missed political science by two classes.

In acting, one should look at the film in totality. Improvisations should only be made keeping in mind the limits of a character. Always believe in team work.

My approach to acting is that I am totally intuitive. I read the script and I get it. If I don't get it, I can't do it.

I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.

You don't want to shock them and do something totally opposite, but you also want to play a different character.

I find acting conservatories really important. I've gone to four different ones, and all of them provided totally different tools for me.

I want to do more movies. I feel like it's a totally different skill set than there is to theater. It's much more internal.

Film is different for me now. If the money is good and it's not totally revolting, I'll do it.