Your agent tells you you’re on hold.

Or they put a pin in you, you’re on the short list, you’re first choice, available dates.

If you’re on hold you’re working. You have plans that could include other work, family, health, holiday or study. But your future …

The moment you realize the power you have is enlightening.

Whether on set or in class there comes a moment when you realize your power. Your pool of power. You feel you’ve reached deep inside. Deeper than you ever have.

A coach might point …

I once went through a dramatic experience and shortly afterwards I was quite anxious and asked my mentor what she thought it was.

‘Well, you’re sensitive.’

I didn’t grasp what she meant …

Is a question you’ve considered often and will continue to do so.

Pick up the pace. Pick up your cues. Speak quicker. Feel the rhythm of the scene. Take a beat.

A pause.

Shooting a commercial you’re under strict time guidelines. You might …

There are no witches.

But, you’re like one.

When you work well you conjure. How you and your fellow actors do that is secret. It’s difficult to do …

So many terms you run into in the TV business need translating.

They don’t mean what they say.

The point is to use your brain. Think things through. If a phrase has you caught off-guard give it some consideration. Rather than take it on face value and as the …

If you are then say it.

What does good mean? There isn’t a pure definition of a ‘good actor’, but some facts support the idea.

Such as: you’ve trained, you’ve got an agent, you worked for three seasons at the Stratford Festival, did …

Do you still call your mother when you book a role?

Sharing your success is proper. 

But, as a professional can you develop the strength to carry on without validation other than your own …

Literal or subconscious?

You can use your imagination to develop a like inner monologue that your character could have. That’s useful work.

You develop aspects of your character – speech, physical – and you make up an inner monologue. Sometimes you let that run while you …

This is tricky.

You’ve got to be professional and use that as your guide.

Meaning don’t watch it with your partner, friends, family and even most of your actor colleagues. 

Cherish your work; guard it. It’s …

As an actor where are you headed?

Lots of destinations are offered to the professional actor – fame, wealth, awards.

To work with ease and grace is what you do when you’re at your best. It’s one of the goals that are practiced on the …

The grade three teacher said, ‘You’re only fooling yourself Johnny.’

If you set out to do something – be an actor, go to an audition, act in an indy film, help a colleague do a self-tape – you have to have a clear conscience.

Think if you’re doing what you want or doing what …

Nothing more comforting than to be in the bar with your fellow actors.

Watch what you take from the evening’s banter as truth.

You learn from experience. Testing the experience is done in acting class where discussion of the work also takes place. Theory and practice …

‘I don’t really have anything new to offer. I’m just playing now ‘til I drop. I can try something new…but mostly I’ve resolved into a sort of habit form of playing. I play things that are familiar to me.’
Eric Clapton, Royal Albert Hall interview, 2017.

It’s always interesting to hear what the …

Whether you use the word and or but makes quite a difference.

If you’re asked ‘Are you working?’ and you reply ‘Yes, but, it’s only a small role.’ That is very different from replying ‘Yes, and it’s going well.’

Your self-talk is important to you as a professional. What you say reflects your outlook. Using and instead of but can have a positive affect on …

One of the first actors I ever coached asked me the other day, ‘Do you teach proactive humility?’.

I paused and thought about it…’Yes, I guess I do.’ I haven’t thought of those two ideas – proactive and humility – together.

I like it. I do teach that.

Dezso Magyar, former Artistic Director of the …

In acting class, the other day, students said that they were glad to have permission to cry, swear, shout or insult.

I’m not so sure about permission. When it comes to acting.

Is willingness the opposite of permission?

All actors must be willing. Willing to try what the director or coach suggests or what’s written …