How we act quote

Ran across this today, whilst researching for an upcoming stage kiss in the next production. LOVE it - this is exactly how I think about acting!!

"In acting, we are always, to some extent, split in two. (We never, as some people would have you believe, totally BECOME the character.) There is the part of us that is always ourself, standing to one side watching, while at the same time there is that part of us that is living the life of the character in that moment. The trick is to minimize the former and maximize the latter. The "ourself" part is like a guide, while the "character" part acts on the suggestions of "ourself." The "ourself" part must urge the "character" part to live the moment. But if the "ourself" part is watching the audience watching us and wondering how they’re reacting, it cannot do it’s job properly. It is a problem of concentration, but the key to concentration is knowing at EVERY MOMENT precisely what it is we’re supposed to be concentrating ON." -John Crowther