“There’s no excuse for familiarity with the text” TOM HANKS

Speaking on the Charlie Rose show back in the 1990’s, the great Tom Hanks was posed the question:

Do you learn something every time?

Hanks has starred in more movies than most actors could ever dream of, so if anyone has had the opportunity to learn those types of lessons you only get on the job by doing it’s Tom.

Sometimes you learn what not to do. What short cuts you can’t take. I’ve learned there are no short cuts.

There’s no excuse for familiarity with the text. You have to know, deep down inside, what the character is going through. You have to know the risk the character is running every step of the way.

If anyone should know – it’s Hanks.