Your North Stars

“I think it’s my job to risk looking foolish. One of the things I’ve learned from the actors I’ve worked with is you don’t get something for nothing. If you don’t risk looking foolish, you’ll never do anything special.” -Ethan Hawke

Who are your North Stars?

Who are the people you continually look up to for fuel and inspiration?

Who are the people who make you proud of your craft?

My North Star is Ethan Hawke. I love the fact that he moves back and forth between film and theatre. That he takes huge risks in doing so. That he tries his hand at other crafts like directing and writing (His novel, A Bright Ray Of Darkness is phenomenal. If you haven’t read it, do so. Especially the audiobook.). And most of all the way he waxes rhapsodically about acting. His love of the art form and purity of approach, continuously affirms why I made the choice many years ago to become an actor and devote my life to the craft.

If you’re looking for some inspiration, check out his interview with Joe Rogan a few months ago. He drops so many gems in there including his story about working with a wolf and discussing legendary actor Paul Scofield acting in a community theater production of King Lear (even though Scofield was famous and could have done it anywhere).

And Blue Moon is a masterpiece. Definitely an immediate must watch if you haven’t seen.

So who are your North Stars? And do you continuously seek out their work and interviews to keep you going? Do so if it’s been a while. Remember, you got to constantly fill up your cup of inspiration.