"Once the curtain is raised, the actor is ceases to belong to himself. He belongs to his character, to his author, to his public. He must do the impossible to identify himself with the first, not to betray the second, and not to disappoint the third"
- Sarah Bernhardt
About this Quote
This quote by Sarah Bernhardt speaks to the power of the actor and the duty they have to their craft. Once the drape is raised, the star is no longer their very own person, but rather comes from their character, the author, as well as the public. It is the actor's obligation to become one with their character, to hold to the author's vision, and to not disappoint the general public. This is no very easy job, as it requires the actor to do the impossible. It is an obstacle that calls for commitment, skill, and also a deep understanding of the personality as well as the story. The actor must be willing to put in the hard work and effort to bring the character to life as well as to make the story come to life for the audience. Sarah Bernhardt's quote speaks to the power of the star as well as the duty they need to their craft.
"What is real is not the external form, but the essence of things... it is impossible for anyone to express anything essentially real by imitating its exterior surface"