James Marsden thinks there’s something beautiful in exploring new roles.Photo by Emory DunnAfter only a few minutes with actor James Marsden, it was apparent that he is passionate about acting.
“One of the great things about what we do as actors is that we don’t want to be the same person over and over again, and choosing this occupation or just wanting to be an actor, in general, affords you the luxury of being able to jump from character to character, from genre to genre, to storyline to different storyline – that’s why we do what we do: to play.”
He describes acting as something that you have to work at.
“It’s a muscle, and you just have to keep doing it. The more you do it, the more comfortable you get, the more confident you get, and I encourage actors to challenge themselves. Don’t take a role because it’s easy; take a role because it’s complex, difficult and something you may or may not see yourself as.”
In the defining of that muscle memory, there is a journey to be taken, and that’s what keeps Marsden going.
“Again, that’s one of the beauties of what we do, it’s like going down these paths and taking these journeys through these characters that may or may not be anything like you. But again, that’s the beauty of being an actor. That’s why I want to do it. I don’t want to just be one thing over and over again.”
He urges students to be persistent in following their passion.
“And then persistence you know, if you’re looking at it from a career standpoint, you just have to be consistent and trust your gut, trust your instincts. Whether you become a big movie star or whether you’re just doing local theater around the block, the rewards are the same. Creatively, the rewards are the same. You affect people, you move people, and that’s the other reason why we do it.”
The best advice he can give to young actors:
“I would say challenge yourself, and trust your gut.”
Contact Augusta Statz.