Uta Hagen Quotes
Born: June 12, 1919
Uta Hagen, a titan of 20th-century theater, reshaped acting into a discipline of profound resilience and unyielding focus. As a Tony-winning actress and revered teacher at HB Studio, she championed the idea that true artistry demands confronting personal vulnerabilities with rigorous honesty. Her philosophy, rooted in the belief that creativity thrives on discipline and emotional courage, empowers performers to transform obstacles into fuel. Hagen’s quotes resonate because they strip away pretense, offering a gritty, soulful roadmap for anyone seeking to reclaim their center amidst chaos—a timeless call to master the self before mastering the stage.
Uta Hagen Quotes (18)
"If you want a bourgeois existence, you shouldn't be an actor. You're in the wrong profession."
— Uta Hagen"We must overcome the notion that we must be regular... it robs you of the chance to be extraordinary and leads you to the mediocre."
— Uta Hagen"Once in awhile, there's stuff that makes me say, That's what theatre's about. It has to be a human event on the stage, and that doesn't happen very often."
— Uta Hagen"Marlon was so sensitive, you thought the poor guy just had a bad education."
— Uta Hagen"We were not allowed to say, Screw, but we could say, Hump the hostess, because hump is in Shakespeare."
— Uta Hagen"I love going to the movies; I love watching good movie actors. They must know something I don't."
— Uta Hagen"I think, by and large, the level of acting is mediocre. When I go to the theatre, I get so angry. I don't go."
— Uta Hagen"Maybe the one I enjoyed playing most was A Month in the Country."
— Uta Hagen"Usually, someone who's in a show gets me a ticket. I feel cornered. I can't walk out if I don't like it."
— Uta Hagen"They still had the Lord Chamberlain, so we had this idiotic censorship. We were allowed three Jesus Christs instead of 10. Why three were OK, I don't know."
— Uta Hagen"We had a relationship that lasted 44 years. Herbert and I lived together 10 years before we were married. He always gave me a little heart for whatever anniversary."
— Uta Hagen"Working with Brando was fun. It was like a tennis match. We played unbelievably well together."
— Uta Hagen"We had a relationship that lasted 44 years. Herbert and I lived together 10 years before we were married. He always gave me a little heart for whatever anniversary."
— Uta Hagen