To hear the experts speak of risk (myself included here and here), an actor would be forgiven for imagining that every second on screen or stage should be a gun-toting, death-defying roller coaster ride into the mouth of an active volcano due to erupt in the next seven seconds.
The reality though is that there are times to engage in risk-taking, and then there are times to play it absolutely safe, with no shame in doing either when you are clever enough to differentiate between the two.
As tempting as it may be to encourage an actor to regularly expose him or herself to the unadulterated joy/abject terror that life can offer in any given moment, this advice must be tempered with the realism of actual day-to-day auditions, classes, and general living. There are certain times it is wise to take toe-curling, nail-biting, edge-of-the-seat risks, and there are other times it’s advisable to snuggle up under a safety blanket and leave the stunts to those who enjoy hospital food. The wisdom is in knowing the difference.
Allow me to suggest to you five times to play it safe:
1. When you believe so deeply that you are the role, and therefore cannot think objectively about it. Go entirely with
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