Emmy Roundtable: Drama Actresses (Part 1)

In a roundtable discussion, actresses Kyra Sedgwick ('The Closer'), Glenn Close ('Damages'), Elisabeth Moss ('Mad Men'), Sandra Oh ('Grey's Anatomy'), Chloe Sevigny ('Big Love'), and Claire Danes ('Temple Grandin') are asked what bothers them about male actors.

[jamesjohnson]

Why would you show two minutes of a round table

[thinklikepink]

I think sandra oh was only saying that not ALL (but still some) actors explore what it is to be human, because some are comedy actors or whatever, who just want to have a laugh and make people laugh - not all actors are 'method' actors. and i would say being a method actor is exploring psychologically and emotionally what it is to be human.

[RyanCRobert]

I completely disagree. Acting is LITERALLY studying human beings. It's studying the way that they move in the tiniest ways. It's studying the way they react internally and externally. She wasn't wrong. That's what acting is. It's studying the human condition and then getting a chance to play out these different scenarios. Actors get to go to places that other humans wouldn't be able to without suffering major consequences. That's just a fact. It's what they do. It's their job.

[johannagp]

I don't know... maybe you're right and she just didn't expressed her idea eloquently enough. Better to give her the "benefit of the doubt" :)

[crackerman]

Kyra says it: More tv shows today make the characters seem real. People who could live next door to you and me. Have real human conflicts and emotions. Tv shows 20 to 50 years ago did some of this, but not like today. Shows now whether 30 or 60 minutes in length, drama, comedy, science fiction what have you, will be more character driven then plot driven because let's face it- most show themes are more and more are becoming repetative. With some exceptions, Mad Men and DH.

[hmt]

Sandra Oh is so cool. I feel like kyra is just trying to play the "Art" card. I mean, the question was terrible, it should've just been dismissed, but instead she says something completely irrelevant....

[marshhen]

Why do women have such a problem with one woman simply disagreeing with another. Its not personal. What is the point of sitting them all there if they are all just going to parrot each other. Way better to have multiple points of view. If women could learn to not overdramatize things when they each have their opinion, we could get somewhere much faster. This occurs at work and its so lame. I love working with women but this is one of our downfalls.

[fourthrain]

I really don't like Kyra Sedgwick---

[ytgurlii]

og god, the women in each roundtable for all the categories r so stiff n upright n SO clearly thinking of something gud to say next (that may outweigh the othr) whereas all the men n all categories r having a ball!! (pun intended)

[longyrob]

it isn't a roundtable...it's a rectangular table

[rafaelrolingson]

@johannagp With all due respect, I think what Sedgwick meant was that all actors are performers of the human condition, the human complexities, and that their job is to explore the human condition (what makes us unique individuals not in a physical way) and interpret it through their acting performances. Also, I think Oh disagreed in the way that not all actors seek or search that human complexities, just play parts. She probably refers to what we would consider bad acting.

[breedak]

@spacefruitful A little harsh with the 'fake chicken shit' description perhaps though fundamentally I agree with you. Sadly, they did duck out on a very pertinent question. Gender roles are hugely relevant to their professional lives, especially on a show like 'Mad Men' for example.

[lovinbosco]

@johannagp I don't give a crap whether you asked for it or not. I have a right to say what I think the same as you. I gave my opinion on a comment. That's my right. If you don't like it, tough! Deal with it. And I will respect whom I respect..

[johannagp]

@lovinbosco Exactly. Everyone has a right to their opinion, respect mine. I didn't ask for yours.

[lovinbosco]

@johannagp You have totally taken what Kyra said out of context. I agree with what she said. If you want to think of yourself as sub-human knock yourself out. I know that's not what she was saying. And of course everyone has a right to their own opinion. I'm just saying... You took it the wrong way.

[johannagp]

"We get to explore what it is to be human. All that it is to be human" WTH?!?!? Because the rest of us "mortals" are sub-humans or chickens or cows... I don't know Kyra and don't have anything against her, but she seems to me a little pretentious here. I like how Sandra Oh obviously didn't agree with what se was saying (as anyone with a little tact would)

[avada]

Kind of annoying that only these excerpts are available why not put the whole discussion here? Reading it is not the same