Get Started
Home Authors Tags

"在我职业生涯的早期,我总是在寻找我角色中的相同内心生活。"

Jack Nicholson
Jack Nicholson Actor
Translations
🇺🇸 English 🇨🇳 中文 🇪🇸 Español 🇪🇬 العربية 🇫🇷 Français 🇮🇷 فارسی 🇯🇵 日本語
Quote meaning
When you think about the start of a career, especially in something creative like acting, writing, or any form of storytelling, there's often a tendency to seek out characters or roles that resonate on a personal level. The core idea here is that in the beginning, it's common to look for characters who share similar internal struggles, desires, and emotions to your own. This helps in creating a genuine and authentic performance or narrative because it comes from a place of personal truth.

Historically, many actors and writers talk about how, when they were just starting out, they'd gravitate towards roles or stories that felt familiar. Maybe they were processing their own experiences or needed to work through personal issues. Think of Robert De Niro in "Mean Streets"—a role that mirrored his own life growing up in the tough neighborhoods of New York. For De Niro, playing characters with a similar internal landscape to his own experiences helped him ground his early performances in something real and visceral.

Now, imagine a young playwright who's fresh out of college. She begins writing plays about young women navigating complicated relationships and self-discovery because that's what she’s living. She pours her heart and soul into these characters, giving them the same doubts, fears, and dreams she has. Her first few works might feel somewhat autobiographical, but they resonate deeply with audiences because of their authenticity.

As for how you can apply this wisdom, let's say you're an aspiring writer. Start by digging into your own life—your fears, your dreams, your struggles. Write characters who face similar internal battles. This doesn't mean your stories need to be autobiographies, but by giving your characters some of your inner life, they'll feel more real. Over time, as you grow and experience more, your range of characters will naturally expand. But in the beginning, find the universality in your personal experiences.

Now, picture this scenario: You're sitting in a coffee shop with a friend, talking about your new passion for writing. You tell them about this inner life concept, and they nod along, intrigued. You share a story about your recent script—a young woman, just like you, trying to find her place in a big city. She worries about paying rent, feeling lonely in a crowd, and chasing dreams that sometimes feel out of reach. Your friend smiles and says, "You should totally write that. People will get it because it's so real."

In the end, it's about starting where you are—using what you know intimately to create something that others can connect with. As you grow, so will your characters. They'll become more diverse, more varied, but they'll always carry that kernel of truth you began with. Remember, it's that authenticity that will draw people in and keep them hooked. So, embrace your inner life and let it shine through your work.
Related tags
Acting Actor Career Character development Inner life Journey Motivation Performance Personal growth Self-discovery
MORE QUOTES BY Jack Nicholson
FEATURED QUOTES
Surprise me with another quote
Instagram Icon Facebook Icon X Icon Threads Icon