"As a matter of principle, I always come to a film like a blank slate, I don't learn my lines in advance. With this approach, I feel clean"

Jeanne Moreau's quote speaks with an approach of acting that highlights spontaneity, existence, and credibility. By approaching each movie as "a blank slate", Moreau recommends that she deliberately shuns preconceptions or fixed ideas about her character or the story. This approach allows her to engage with the material in a fresh and instant method. She intimates that learning her lines beforehand could anchor her to a constant interpretation, possibly suppressing the organic development of character and scene that can develop from interacting naturally with her fellow stars and the environment.

The idea of being a "blank slate" in this context suggests openness and receptivity. Moreau seeks to absorb and react to the stimuli of the moment, instead of filtering her efficiency through a pre-constructed lens. This can cause a more genuine and nuanced portrayal, as she can adapt to the characteristics of the scene, the impulses of her co-stars, and the instructions of the filmmaker.

Furthermore, she points out feeling "tidy" with this method, which recommends a sense of purity or flexibility in her craft. This tidiness can be analyzed as an unburdened state, devoid of the weight of previous assumptions and prepared to check out the depths of her character and story. Her approach contrasts sharply with approaches that emphasize extensive preparation and character study. Moreau seems to advocate for a balance in between impulse and strategy, where the star's lived experience and emotional intuition take precedence over rote memorization or mechanical recreation of lines.

Her approach motivates actors to trust their impulses and the collaborative process of filmmaking, underscoring the innovative capacity of reacting in real-time. In doing so, she highlights an unique method to efficiency that blends the unpredictability of life with the intentionality of art.