"私が俳優として新鮮でいるためには、物事に対して個人的にどう感じるかから少し距離を置く必要があります。"

As an actor, you need to step back from your own emotions to keep things fresh on stage or screen. This idea, at its core, is about maintaining a balance between your personal feelings and the character you're portraying. It's tough—sometimes you get so wrapped up in what you yourself would feel or do that you forget to fully embody the role. When an actor manages to create that distance, they can bring a more genuine and nuanced performance to the audience.

Think about the context of this. It probably came from an actor struggling to find the right balance between their own emotions and the emotions they need to convey. Imagine someone who’s playing a character entirely different from themselves—maybe a villain when they’re the nicest person off-screen. If they clung too tightly to their own feelings, they might not be able to convincingly portray that character’s complexities.

Take Meryl Streep as a prime example. She’s renowned for her ability to dive deep into any character she plays. Whether it's the icy Miranda Priestly in “The Devil Wears Prada” or the vulnerable, broken-down mother in “Kramer vs. Kramer,” Streep manages to distance herself from her own personality to fully inhabit her roles. She doesn't let her personal feelings cloud her performance. Instead, she steps back, analyzes the character’s motivations, and then immerses herself completely—yet at a safe distance.

So, how do you apply this? First, recognize your own tendencies and emotions. You need to be aware of what you’re bringing into the role from your personal life. Then, try to compartmentalize. Picture your mind like a dresser with drawers. Your personal feelings go in one drawer, and your character’s feelings go in another. When you’re preparing for a role, open the character’s drawer and leave your own emotions tucked away.

Here’s a story to illustrate this. Imagine you’re an actor about to take on a role in a drama where you play someone who’s just lost a loved one. Recently, you’ve experienced something similar in your own life. Naturally, you’re tempted to draw from that experience. But if you allow your personal grief to take over, it might overwhelm the performance, making it less about the character and more about you. Instead, take a step back. Reflect on the character’s unique situation, their specific relationships, and how they might process their grief differently from you. By doing this, you can honor both your emotions and the character’s truth, creating a performance that resonates deeply but stays authentic to the story.

In essence, distancing yourself from your own feelings doesn’t mean you’re becoming detached or robotic. It’s about preserving the integrity of both your personal life and your art. You want to remain fresh, not bogged down by the weight of your own emotions. It’s a delicate dance, but mastering it can lead to powerful, unforgettable performances. So, next time you’re preparing for a role, take a moment—step back, breathe, and open the right drawer. You’ll find it makes all the difference.