characteristics present in a great actor and real artist

The death of the great Philip Seymour Hoffman was doubtless a great blow to, not only his friends and family, but also to other actors who both knew and respected him and his work. His death was certainly an emotional one for many. There has been palpable grief present since the event. When an actor dreams of being a real artist, it is necessary to find mentors who will encourage growth and creativity and the ultimate improvement in both skill as well as character development. Philip Seymour Hoffman was both an actor and artist. Unfortunately, our current culture tends to label the art of an actor based on the money he has earned and the fame he has acquired. With the number of individuals trying to act, the term "actor" has lost a good deal of its meaning. Those individuals who trivialize the craft are not real artists; Hoffman would always say that, for those who know what true acting requires, there is nothing harder.


I truly believe in the actor as artist concept. Students who come to our studio striving to transform themselves from simple actors to true artists are often pleased to find that this is a quest that we find most noble, a quest that we enthusiastically help our students to follow and achieve. When I look at a new class for the first time, I gaze out at the students who have all come here with a desire to become the best actor they can be. Many of the students who come through our doors have dreamed since childhood of an acting career. While many of these students come to us with the desire to become a great actor, few are intent on transforming themselves into a real artist at first. Only through realizing the hard work that goes into acting and real creativity will most student actors understand that their goal should not merely be to become the best actor they can be, but the best artist as well.

A committed artist is driven by their craft: constantly striving to create and aware of how much they require improvement; they have plenty of skill but they are not satisfied with what they already know, they constantly wish to improve themselves, they have empathy for others and for the characters they create, and they don't allow distractions or ego to get in the way of their progress; it's always about the new project and never about their own personal desires; they are blunt, honest, and don't beat around the bush, they are ready to risk everything and admit to their mistakes, they are ready to improve all the time, they understand that the learning process is never complete, that they can always learn more and become a better artist than they were before. This is what truly makes an actor an artist.

Philip Seymour Hoffman was undoubtedly a true artist. The loss of his acting talent and dynamic persona is truly a blow that has left quite a mark. I am thoroughly energized by the thought of my students who come here on a noble quest to pursue their dreams and become both great actors and artists. I have a heart-felt admiration for those persons who pour everything they have into their craft, knowing that their creative process always has room for improvement. Phil and his work will always be honored by me and the acting community; we are truly honored to be able to call him a mentor. His work has doubtless been an important asset to our craft.

For more information on Meisner Acting Studio new york ny , Top Acting Coach new york ny and Acting School new york ny you can contact us at: Maggie Flanigan Studio Inc 153 W 27th St #803 New York, NY 10001 (917) 606-0982