M. Night Shyamalan cast and directed Bryce Dallas Howard in a key role in the 2004 film “The Village” and commented :
”There’s a purity to her that comes through in her acting. When an emotion comes through, it’s unadulterated.
“The gunk from fame and money — all those things that would gunk up the system — won’t get in her way.”
[Los Angeles Times Jan 15 2006]
Part of the “gunk” that can clog creative expression is the “ego” thinking and attitude that can come with fame, or with too much need for approval and power.
“Once you get used to being larger than life, it’s actually very liberating… I might as well do whatever I want, whenever I want, with whomever I want.”
That is ‘Deanna, Diva’ in a print ad for “Diva” starring Annie Potts at The Pasadena Playhouse (in 2006).
But that is a character – what about ego in real life?
Responding to a magazine question: “What kills creativity?” – actor Gillian Anderson replied succinctly, “Ego.” [From my article Ego and Creativity.]
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“Bewitched” director and co-writer Nora Ephron said about the character Darren [played by Will Ferrell] that “he is the kind of actor who I’m afraid is all too common.
“It’s not just that the guy wants three trailers (which he does in the film) but these guys pretend they want the woman to speak a few lines in the movie but they don’t really. That’s not unlike real life, by the way.” [LA Times, June 18, 2005]
Bryce Dallas Howard said about her own very opposite kind of attitude:
“I feel if I get the job, that boosts my ego enough. If a director believes in me enough to give me the job, he can say whatever he wants after that, and it’s not going to break me down.”
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Jennifer Lehman, a film acting teacher, commented in our interview that “You need to move away from your ego to stay in a creative state.
“Anytime you’re shifting the focus back to yourself, you’re shutting down creative potential.
“It’s difficult to achieve a consistent openness, letting things flow through you, without your own judgments, your own personal history, or how you think it should be, interfering with that.”
Dancer and choreographer Martha Graham commented about creative expression:
“It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work.
“You have to keep yourself open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open.”
[From the book: Martha..]
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Thandie Newton has also commented on fame and ego:
“I don’t put the pressure on myself to be a very successful movie star.
“I want to enjoy being an actor and I want to be challenged by the roles I take.”
She has also been quoted:
“When I am out and about I feel watched. It’s become second nature. The only time I get to be private is in my work.
“That is when I liberate the ego. The blissed-out sensation of liberating the ego.”
(Both quotes from imdb.)
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Douglas Eby (M.A./Psychology) is author of the The Creative Mind series of sites which provide “Information and inspiration to help creative people thrive.”
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