A newspaper article interviewed Vera Farmiga on her work in “The Departed” as an example of her work.
“Most of what I want to dwell on with all my characters, what interests me, are the contradictions, the inconsistencies of characters and the insecurity and confusion and fear which we all have,” she said
‘With her ability to disappear into her roles, Farmiga is perhaps the quintessential character actress. Oscar often has trouble recognizing such talent. But unlike some, she doesn’t mind the label.
“As opposed to what – leading lady? I giggle because I think they’re such archetypal characters. Absolutely I would prefer being considered a character actress than a leading lady, quote unquote. But those are such Hollywood terms from the ’40s. I don’t know if they’re even applicable anymore.”‘
[Los Angeles Times / The Envelope Nov 8 2006]
How do actors and other artists make use of their inner emotional lives, including their shadow selves or dark sides, to be more alive and creative?
Actor Anthony Hopkins has talked about engaging with this side of ourselves:
“I’m not a psychologist, but at the back of it I think there is a feeling that everything is uncertain, there is no guarantee of anything and that causes us great fascination and fear. So we look into the dark side of ourselves and the world.
“I think the healthy way to live is to make friends with the beast inside oneself, the dark side of one’s nature, and have fun with it.
“What happens if you don’t address the darkness in you? You become repressed, depressed and suicidal.”
(From “Anthony Hopkins: Hollywood Is ‘Full of Crazy People’” by Jeanne Wolf, Parade mag., Feb 11, 2010. Photo: Anthony Hopkins in Westworld.)
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Mihaela Ivan Holtz , Psy.D., LMFT, helps creative people in TV/Film, performing and fine arts,
She also writes about the emotional and creative pleasures of their inner life – and its challenges – on her site Creative Minds Psychotherapy.
Here is an excerpt from one of her related articles:
While some creatives and performers are good at navigating their career and still be emotionally up to the challenge, others may struggle.
Some develop depression, anxiety, addictions, and relationship difficulties.
And sadly, some may struggle to keeping up with their art without hurting themselves.
A dark side of being a creative and a performer, is to have access to certain emotional states that are the medium through which art is created.
At the same time, these emotional states can become a risky affair.
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See more in longer article Make friends with our shadow self to be more creative.
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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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