--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Gary Ross one of those directors which…" description: "\"Gary Ross one of those directors which lets you do what you need to do to become your character - he lets you try to do everything on your own when you..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33f/willow-shields-21020_acting_gary-ross-one-of-those-directors-which-l_256356.jpg" --- # Gary Ross one of those directors which lets you do what… ![“Gary Ross one of those directors which lets you do what you need to do to become your character - he lets you try to do everything on your own when you're acting. Then at some points he would say, "Let's try this," or "Let's try that." Most of the time he just kind of let me try to just become my…” quote by Willow Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33f/willow-shields-21020_acting_gary-ross-one-of-those-directors-which-l_256356.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33f/willow-shields-21020_acting_gary-ross-one-of-those-directors-which-l_256356.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33f/willow-shields-21020_acting_gary-ross-one-of-those-directors-which-l_256356.jpg) > “Gary Ross one of those directors which lets you do what you need to do to become your character - he lets you try to do everything on your own when you're acting. Then at some points he would say, "Let's try this," or "Let's try that." Most of the time he just kind of let me try to just become my character on my own and it worked out really well.” [Willow Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willow-shields/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The director encourages actors to explore their roles independently, offering occasional guidance, fostering authentic performance. **In simple terms:** Actors discover character through self‑exploration with minimal direction. Key Takeaway Trust your instincts; experiment freely. Themes creativity self‑discovery acting collaboration Mood inspired reflective Type instructional experiential When to use this quote - theatre rehearsals - film sets - workshop exercises - personal growth Key Concepts method acting directorial style Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance guidance with autonomy? - When does self‑direction hinder progress? A Different Perspective Too much freedom can lead to confusion without clear vision. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Gary Ross is a really awesome director. He envisioned everything in The Hunger Games perfectly, exactly how I imagined it, which is perfect to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willow-shields/gary-ross-is-a-really-awesome-director-he-envisioned-everything-in/) [Willow Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willow-shields/) > [Since signing with Universal, I have been working closely with Gary Ross, the director, producer and screenwriter. We have spent many hours on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-hillenbrand/since-signing-with-universal-i-have-been-working-closely-with-gary/) [Laura Hillenbrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-hillenbrand/) > [Gary Ross is amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-hemsworth/gary-ross-is-amazing/) [Liam Hemsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-hemsworth/) > [ It was very important to me to choose a director like Gary \[Ross\], whose instincts come from character, who's a storyteller, and who puts… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-jacobson/it-was-very-important-to-me-to-choose-a-director-like-gary-ross-whose/) [Nina Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-jacobson/) > [ I felt that with each movie, Gary \[Ross\] adopts a different style. He doesn't have one look that's the Gary Ross look, and I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-jacobson/i-felt-that-with-each-movie-gary-ross-adopts-a-different-style-he/) [Nina Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-jacobson/) > [Gary Ross is amazing. He's just - he always has a billion ideas of what he wants, but has a very clear perspective also;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-hemsworth/gary-ross-is-amazing-he-s-just-he-always-has-a-billion-ideas-of-what/) [Liam Hemsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-hemsworth/) > [I know with Gary Ross especially, he kind of gave me pointers here and there, but he kind of let me become firm in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willow-shields/i-know-with-gary-ross-especially-he-kind-of-gave-me-pointers-here-and/) [Willow Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willow-shields/) > [Well I was about to be expelled from school, I had been arrested and a teacher said: "Why don't you try acting, instead of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-leguizamo/well-i-was-about-to-be-expelled-from-school-i-had-been-arrested-and-a/) [John Leguizamo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-leguizamo/) > [What I try to do often when I'm acting and what I like when I'm seeing good acting is how authentic it is. How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-karpovsky/what-i-try-to-do-often-when-i-m-acting-and-what-i-like-when-i-m/) [Alex Karpovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-karpovsky/) > [I didn't know that I could act, but my friend told me, 'Before you do directing, maybe you should try acting. It would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/choi-woo-shik/i-didn-t-know-that-i-could-act-but-my-friend-told-me-before-you-do/) [Choi Woo-shik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/choi-woo-shik/) > [I was doing chemistry in Research Triangle Park in North Carolina. It was the first time I'd lived alone, and I had an epiphany…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/retta/i-was-doing-chemistry-in-research-triangle-park-in-north-carolina-it/) [Retta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/retta/) > [At the end of drama school, I made a contract with myself: I'd try acting for five years. I was 26. I had already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/at-the-end-of-drama-school-i-made-a-contract-with-myself-i-d-try/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [I was 20 years old, working as a roofer and a telemarketer and driving a taxi, just barely getting by. A friend of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-monteith/i-was-20-years-old-working-as-a-roofer-and-a-telemarketer-and-driving/) [Cory Monteith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-monteith/) > [I did a lot of theater in college, and I knew that not many people make it, but I just figured, 'Well, I really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-azaria/i-did-a-lot-of-theater-in-college-and-i-knew-that-not-many-people/) [Hank Azaria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-azaria/) > [People seem to be interested in me. So I try to keep my acting pretty simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-howard/people-seem-to-be-interested-in-me-so-i-try-to-keep-my-acting-pretty/) [Clint Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-howard/) ## More by Willow Shields > [Well, Jen and Josh are the two funniest people on set. They're absolutely insane. If you put them together, it's just a disaster, But,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willow-shields/well-jen-and-josh-are-the-two-funniest-people-on-set-they-re/) [Willow Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willow-shields/) > [I know with Gary Ross especially, he kind of gave me pointers here and there, but he kind of let me become firm in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willow-shields/i-know-with-gary-ross-especially-he-kind-of-gave-me-pointers-here-and/) [Willow Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willow-shields/) > [I thought it was really funny that half the people I autographed things for said, 'Autograph the back of my phone.' I was like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willow-shields/i-thought-it-was-really-funny-that-half-the-people-i-autographed/) [Willow Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willow-shields/) > [Always stay true to who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willow-shields/always-stay-true-to-who-you-are/) [Willow Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willow-shields/) > [For 'The Haunting Hour,' I thought it would be a lot of fun. It was great to play this cool kid role. My episode…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willow-shields/for-the-haunting-hour-i-thought-it-would-be-a-lot-of-fun-it-was-great/) [Willow Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willow-shields/) > [I have three dogs, a cat, fish. I'm a huge animal lover. They're amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willow-shields/i-have-three-dogs-a-cat-fish-i-m-a-huge-animal-lover-they-re-amazing/) [Willow Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willow-shields/) > [I didn't audition for the part! The role was offered to me, and I was so excited to be a part of 'The Haunting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willow-shields/i-didn-t-audition-for-the-part-the-role-was-offered-to-me-and-i-was/) [Willow Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willow-shields/) > [Well, my life hasn't really changed... I've been homeschooled for a long time. So that helped a lot because of shooting and stuff. But,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willow-shields/well-my-life-hasn-t-really-changed-i-ve-been-homeschooled-for-a-long/) [Willow Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willow-shields/) > [I definitely look up to Meryl Streep because she's been in so many amazing movies, and I just think that she's one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willow-shields/i-definitely-look-up-to-meryl-streep-because-she-s-been-in-so-many/) [Willow Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willow-shields/) > [Lenny Kravitz was the biggest gentleman on set. He always helped the ladies, like by pulling out the chair for them. If we were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willow-shields/lenny-kravitz-was-the-biggest-gentleman-on-set-he-always-helped-the/) [Willow Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willow-shields/) > [Ever since I was a about seven or eight; I think it was seven. My brother said "I want to start acting," and me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willow-shields/ever-since-i-was-a-about-seven-or-eight-i-think-it-was-seven-my/) [Willow Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willow-shields/) > [Two of my favorite actresses are Meryl Streep and Angelina Jolie. So, I would love, love, love to work with them. But I also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willow-shields/two-of-my-favorite-actresses-are-meryl-streep-and-angelina-jolie-so-i/) [Willow Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willow-shields/) > [My brother was a huge fan of 'The Hunger Games' for a couple of years before I got the role, so he was really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willow-shields/my-brother-was-a-huge-fan-of-the-hunger-games-for-a-couple-of-years/) [Willow Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willow-shields/) > [Well I mean I think everybody was devastated because my last day on set was my death scene and so it was just sad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willow-shields/well-i-mean-i-think-everybody-was-devastated-because-my-last-day-on/) [Willow Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willow-shields/) > [I really want to try to become a great actress when I get older and continue to do what I'm doing now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willow-shields/i-really-want-to-try-to-become-a-great-actress-when-i-get-older-and/) [Willow Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willow-shields/) [Explore all 30 Willow Shields quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willow-shields/) ## More Acting quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) Ryan Newman > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. 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