More Advice!

“‘My job is to get the job — then I can worry about doing it.’ That’s my great teacher Bobby Lewis, who was a member of the Group Theatre in the ’30s and was a magnificent, funny, great raconteur. He said that to us over and over again. I say it all the time to young actors. When you’re up for an audition, do not look further than that audition. When you are selling a piece of material, when you’re pitching it, your audience is the people in the room. [The job] doesn’t exist until it’s real. Don’t talk about it — keep it to yourself, to your partners. When you get it, then you can celebrate.”

HENRY WINKLER, BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY, BARRY

“The best advice I ever got was from an acting teacher of mine, way back when I was in college, and it was just one word: ‘Persevere.’ It sounds trite, but it encompasses so many issues. I think what people have to not lose sight of in this business is that it’s a marathon — it’s a long game. Any one success or failure isn’t going to be a defining moment. The other thing, that I have actually come to fairly recently, just in terms of my own sanity: If anyone would ask me, “What keeps you grounded?” It’s this idea that it’s not about you. That’s the key. The business is competitive. There are a lot of people receiving praise or accolades, and a lot of times that ego inevitably becomes a big part of it. I think it’s important to keep in mind that we’re in a collaborative venture. As actors, we’re really here to serve.”

TONY SHALHOUB, BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY, THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL