The Art of Acting: A Guide to Respectful Performance, by Uta Hagen

Wildotter: The book is well-written and provides an interesting account of the strategies Hagen used to help her with various stage roles. What is missing, however, is an overall acting strategy. It is interesting that in later years Hagen disowned this book.

Canada on Oct 09, 2023

Kysha C.: Amazing book for my class. Recommended reading from my professor. I couldn't believe how it's written for actors on founding the details for there characters so specific and understanding. Instead of 5 stars. 10/10 will Recommend to keep and study forever.

United States on Aug 09, 2023

Casey Casperson: Truly a fundamental straightforward approach to acting. Many aspects of improv acting require these techniques to achieve success. It’s actually denounces this book so focus more on her philosophy and less on the exercises

United States on Feb 07, 2023

Serhat Incedal: As someone who wants to go into acting, I learned a lot from this book. It teaches a lot about the sector as well as, all of the hard work and effort it takes to become a good actor.

United Kingdom on Jan 21, 2022

Jaime Mercado: Me gusto el libro y fue un perfecto regalo

Mexico on Jan 10, 2022

Emily: Took a college acting class as someone who isn’t an actor, this was required reading. I learned some stuff from it, but it can be boring at times. If you think you’ll be able to get something from it or if you want to be an actor, it’s a decent read; there’s some nuggets of wisdom in there. Otherwise, I’m gonna be honest, it’s a bit boring. Not the worst book I’ve ever read, not the best. At least it’s a little interesting

United States on Dec 31, 2021

Amazon Customer: As an acting student new to the concept of method acting, I wanted to read the books by Uta Hagen, of whom my own acting teacher is a disciple.

This book has “caught me up” on the outer philosophy contained in Hagen’s approach, and with Hagen’s follow up book Challenge for The Actor, has made me better prepared in my acting education.

United States on Jul 05, 2021

ActingLover: Just... inspiring. Hagen is revolutionary in terms of providing the actor with detailed, effective methods on how to bring truth to a character and the play. Her anecdotes are highlights of this gifted book and supplies an explanation to certain aspects that maybe perceived as confusing. However, the basis of her technique just frees me, personally, as an actor and I am still in development. It seems so obvious now but she teaches you that the best actors are finely tuned with their senses 27/4 and they observe their reactions, feelings and emotions and what the do in that state in order to bring life to the stage. She states also in her DVD "If I go to the theatre and I can see the acting - I already don't like it". It is such a shame that in 2004 we lost such a great actress and this book just preserves her spirit and enthusiasm for the craft of acting. There is no choice if you are an actor - you MUST get it. 1 million stars ;)

United Kingdom on Oct 20, 2012

Amazonian: First, it is not "by David Hyde Pierce" as claimed by the review-request email! (He wrote the intro.) It's by the late, great Uta Hagen -- acting teacher extroadinaire. The book has inspired pretty much every decent American actor that walked the earth so let it inspire you. Find out what method acting is REALLY about (it's not about larding up for a role, staying in character for 6 months or running around the block to get sweaty... it's really about find aspects of yourself you can blow up and use). Her exercises are great -- watch her video on Youtube with students doing them, and her straight but comforting critiques. The exercises alone inspired me to write a 30-minute piece for a local festival, telling a full story with one actor in one location -- talking to himself and on the phone. Uta was the actor's Jesus. Every actor should read this to really get a handle on what acting is, how an actor should think. And every so often you will ask yourself, "What would Uta do?".

United Kingdom on Mar 27, 2012

xtn: I have been acting for more than 7 years now. One of my degrees is in Theatre (Acting concentration) and I've performed dozens of play and films. This book wasn't a part of my curriculum but was suggested reading by a director of mine. I have never read an acting book with such depth and insight told in such a straightforward and brilliant manner. Uta Hagen has written what I constantly refer to as my "Acting Bible". Whenever I find myself in an acting rut, I pull out this book and read a few passages. I read that Mrs. Hagen had conflicting thoughts about the book later in her career and actually denounced it and released another book. I have not read that book, but I don't feel as though I have to.

As an actor, you can read hundreds of books about technique and exercises, but acting is an art of individuality. This book is not necessarily technique-oriented in the traditional sense, but rather provides a framework upon which an actor can build and refer to in their "bag of tricks".

I highly recommend this to any student of the art of acting.

United States on Aug 04, 2011