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'Movie acting is about covering the machinery. Stage acting is about exposing the machinery. In cinema, you should think the actor is playing himself, if he's that good. It looks very easy. It should. But it's not, I assure you. To disappear your complete self into a character is quite difficult. I've tried it 85 times, and I've succeeded two or three times.'

Michael Caine#5

ActingFilmPerformanceTechnique

About this quote

What does it mean?
Cinema requires hiding the work of acting to look natural, which is very hard.
In plain terms
Film acting hides the effort to look easy, but it is hard.
What can you take from it?
Great screen acting hides the effort behind it.

Where it applies

  • screen acting
  • performance

Putting it to work

  • practice disappearing into character

Questions to consider

  • Is naturalness the goal of acting?
  • How do you act naturally?

Another view

Stage acting also hides significant effort despite exposure.

More from Michael Caine

  1. 'I used to get the girl; now I get the part. In 'The Quiet American' you may have noticed I got the part and the girl. It's a milestone for me, because it's th…

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  2. 'The best research [for playing a drunk] is being a British actor for 20 years.'

    Permalink to quote #6
  3. 'I am in so many movies that are on TV at 2:00 a.m. that people think I am dead.'

    Permalink to quote #3

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