For some strange reason, we believe that anyone who lived before we were born was in some peculiar way a different kind of human being from any we have come in contact with in our own lifetime. This concept must be changed; we must realize in our bones that almost everything in time and history has changed except the human being.

Uta Hagen

Categorized in : Way Believe Peculiar

We must overcome the notion that we must be regular... it robs you of the chance to be extraordinary and leads you to the mediocre.

women self-esteem life

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

passion play character

The knowledge that every day there is something more to learn, something higher to reach for, something new to make for others, makes each day infinitely precious

something-new higher each-day

no work of art is ever finished, nothing is ever static, no perfo... by Uta Hagen

no work of art is ever finished, nothing is ever static, no performance is for keeps.

static performances art

Talent is an amalgam of high sensitivity; easy vulnerability; high sensory equipment (seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, tasting intensely); a vivid imagination as well as a grip on reality; the desire to communicate one's own experience and sensations, to make one's self heard and seen.

vivid-imagination self reality

The actor must know that since he, himself, is the instrument, he must play on it to serve the character with the same effortless dexterity with which the violinist makes music on his. Just because he doesn't look like a violin is no reason to assume his techniques should be thought of as less difficult.

play character looks

Since the time of the ancient Greeks a democracy has depended on its philosophers and creative artists. It can only flourish by continuous probing, prodding, and questioning of the social conditions under which man exists and tries to better himself. One of the first moves of a dictatorship is to stifle the artists and thinkers who have the ability to stir up dissent from any prescribed dogma which might enslave them. Because the artist can arouse the curiosity and conscience of his community, he becomes a threat to those who have taken power.

women taken moving

All tedious research is worth one inspired moment. by Uta Hagen

All tedious research is worth one inspired moment.

inspired moments research

One cannot demand of art that it pay you in any other way than in the satisfaction of the work itself.

demand pay art

Once in a while, 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.

events theatre stuff

If you want a bourgeois existence, you shouldn't be an actor. You... by Uta Hagen

If you want a bourgeois existence, you shouldn't be an actor. You're in the wrong profession.

existence actors want

To rebel or revolt against the status quo is in the very nature o... by Uta Hagen

To rebel or revolt against the status quo is in the very nature of an artist.

status-quo rebel artist

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.

play feelings character

We were not allowed to say, Screw, but we could say, Hump the hostess, because hump is in Shakespeare.

hostesses host screws

We had a relationship that lasted 44 years. Herbert and I lived together 10 years before we were married. He always gave me a little heart for whatever anniversary.

anniversary heart years

I love going to the movies; I love watching good movie actors. Th... by Uta Hagen

I love going to the movies; I love watching good movie actors. They must know something I don't.

good-movie actors knows

I have disassociated myself from that book. by Uta Hagen

I have disassociated myself from that book.

book

The need to be loved and protected is at a peak when we feel abandoned and are particularly vulnerable to difficult circumstances.

abandoned vulnerable needs

Keep pace with the present. Take a trip to the moon. envision the... by Uta Hagen

Keep pace with the present. Take a trip to the moon. envision the future.

pace moon

I love playing Chekhov. That's the hardest; that's why I love it... by Uta Hagen

I love playing Chekhov. That's the hardest; that's why I love it most.

chekhov hardest theatre