"I started to study, because I knew I had to learn a lot about myself as an actor; you can't act the same as you did as a child"

Roddy McDowall’s reflection highlights the journey of personal and professional growth inherent to an actor's life. As a child actor, McDowall experienced a different mode of performance, one often rooted in natural instinct, spontaneity, and perhaps even a lack of self-consciousness. Childhood acting tends to be raw, honest, and unfiltered, shaped more by emotion and creativity than by studied technique or self-awareness. However, as actors transition into adulthood, the demands of the art form shift dramatically. No longer is it sufficient to rely on instinct or the simple expressiveness of youth.

The process of studying, as McDowall suggests, becomes essential. For an adult actor, skill and craft are not just about learning lines or expressing basic emotions; they involve delving deeply into one's own psyche, exploring the motivations, fears, and desires that drive both oneself and the characters portrayed. Acting at a mature level requires introspection, an honest assessment of one’s own habits and tendencies, and an openness to growth and change. The craft demands continually building upon emotional intelligence, empathy, and adaptability.

Realization also dawns that performances need to be more nuanced, layered, and true to a wider range of human experience. The journey from child to adult actor means shedding simplicity and embracing complexity, learning tools and methods that enhance authenticity on stage or screen. Techniques from training, such as those from Stanislavski or Meisner, help in understanding the motivations and objectives of every character, and in using one’s personal truth to serve storytelling.

McDowall’s statement serves as a reminder that evolving as an actor, and indeed, as a person, requires humility, dedication, and the willingness to confront and understand oneself at deeper levels. Acting, for him, is no longer child’s play but a lifelong commitment to self-discovery, learning, and transformation.