“The worst beauty advice that I have ever taken has been from people who have told me that sunscreen isn't necessary. Not true!” PeopleHas BeensTakenWorstAdviceSunscreen Author:Amanda Schull
“It's hard with ballet because your aesthetic really is important. It's different from acting and from film. Nobody wants to watch somebody who is sickly thin. And it's interesting because I have danced with people who are ill, have eating disorders, and a light goes off within them.” PeopleWantImportantDifferentHardLightFilmInterestingActingWatchesEatingIllDisorderBalletAestheticEating Disorder Author:Amanda Schull
“I love to work. I know that sounds ridiculous to say because all people love to work, but I love the homework that goes into acting. I love figuring out different ways of playing a scene. I love the energy of being on set. I love not getting enough sleep because I have to wake up early in the morning.” PeopleKnowsWayDifferentEnoughEnergySoundSleepActingMorningSceneWake UpRidiculousDifferent WaysHomeworkUp EarlyEnough Sleep Author:Amanda Schull
“I enjoyed acting growing up; I did musical theater. I had a secret desire to be a television and movie actress, but it wasn't something I admitted to myself that I wanted to do, I guess.” WantedDesireActingSecretGrowing UpGrowingTelevisionTheaterMusicalActressesEnjoyedMusical TheaterSecret Desire Author:Amanda Schull
“It gets better. It gets so much easier to be in your skin no matter what size that skin is. If you do something that you're good at and that makes you happy, that's the best outlet that I could ever suggest to anybody....if you are able to just enjoy who you are, and if you can learn to love who you are, then you'll just be a much happier person.” IfsPersonsMatterAbleEnjoyEasierSkinsNo Matter WhatWho You AreSizeGet BetterOutletsMake You HappyIt Gets Better Author:Amanda Schull
“In high school ethics they went around and asked what everyone thought their classmates were qualified to do. For me, everyone said actress. But to me it was very much "if it happens, it happens."” IfsSaidHappensSchoolEthicsHigh SchoolActressesQualifiedClassmates Author:Amanda Schull
“A lot of professional dancers become professional when they turn 15 or 16 years old, when they're still children. So you've trained every single waking moment up until that point for a career that could maybe only last 10 years, maybe longer if your body holds up, if your injuries are kept at bay.” IfsYearsChildrenStillsMomentsBodyLastsTurnsCareersYour BodyDancerInjuryWaking Author:Amanda Schull
“Every dancer has injuries, and your injury could happen that season that you were getting that one part that you've wanted to do your whole career. So you have to appreciate every single moment until it happens.” WholeMomentsHappensWantedCareersAppreciateSeasonsDancerInjurySingle Mom Author:Amanda Schull
“As a dancer, I know couples that have stayed married but separated to dance on different continents. Dance in general, but ballet in particular, is such a finite career. You can't do it later in life, and it's something that I think a dancer has to have some selfishness to fulfill.” ThinkingKnowsDifferentCareersParticularCoupleMarriedSelfishnessDancerBalletContinentsFiniteLater In Life Author:Amanda Schull
“What a person feels within themselves and about themselves radiates from them. Trust me, I have worked with people - both men and women - who are not what most would consider conventionally attractive, but who exude such a magnetism about them that people are compelled to watch them on stage or screen.” PeopleMenFeelsPersonsWatchesStageMen And WomenScreensAttractiveCompelledTrust MeMagnetism Author:Amanda Schull
“I think people don't often realize how much goes into being a male dancer. It's athletic and it's hard. It's not just men wearing tights, or wanting to be around women.” PeopleThinkingMenHardRealizingMalesDancerAthleticTights Author:Amanda Schull
“You never know where your next job is going to lead you, down the road. One single episode that might seem so far removed from what you might end up doing in the future might spark somebody's memory bank. Just one little line you said or a look you gave might be what they want to pursue with a character.” KnowsWantLooksLittlesSaidEndsCharacterSeemsMightJobsNextLinesMemoriesPursueJust OneSparksEpisodesDown The Road Author:Amanda Schull
“You never want to be pigeonholed into something and have people think, "Oh, that's the guy we call for this particular thing."” PeopleThinkingWantGuyParticular Author:Amanda Schull
“You don't want to burn any bridges, but you also want to make sure you leave your character bridges wide open and you're never seen as one particular thing, or that's who you'll be, unfortunately, for the rest of your career.” WantCharacterCareersParticularWideBridges Author:Amanda Schull
“I wouldn't necessarily consider myself the typical sci-fi genre fan. I do have a lot of sci-fi shows that I enjoy, but I wouldn't call it my favorite genre of all.” ShowsEnjoyFansMy FavoriteGenreSci FiTypical Author:Amanda Schull
“Science fiction is one of the smartest genres around because you have to have so much forethought.” FictionScience FictionGenreForethought Author:Amanda Schull
“Every time I get a script in my inbox, it's like a little Christmas present. It's so exciting to see what they've cooked up.” LittlesExcitingScriptsChristmas PresentInbox Author:Amanda Schull
“I left home at 14 and I have friends who joined the navy and the army performing troops at 9. I know people [like that]. It's a very straightforward character.” PeopleKnowsCharacterHomeLeftArmyPerformingTroopsNavyStraightforward Author:Amanda Schull
“I came to the United States in 1981 as a student.When I left, I was totally the most beloved little flower in China and so it was an outrage basically.” LittlesStatesLeftUnitedUnited StatesStudentsFlowerChinaBelovedOutrage Author:Amanda Schull
“For the first four years of my studying in the U.S., I couldn't go home for two reasons. One is I was afraid that if I left my student visa may not hold and I wouldn't be able to come back to continue. Second, there was this big outrage in China that I didn't know how to face the public.” IfsKnowsYearsFirstsMayTwoReasonHomeBigsAbleFacesLeftKnow HowStudyFourStudentsChinaFour YearsOutrageVisa Author:Amanda Schull
“When I first came USA, I didn't feel this was my home. This was where I was studying, and then my home was now rejecting me.” FeelsFirstsHomeStudyUsaRejecting Author:Amanda Schull
“The second time I was banned was when I directed a film called Xiu Xiu. I was banned for three years from China.” YearsFilmThreeChinaThree YearsBanned Author:Amanda Schull
“Usually you read a script and you know somebody who knows somebody who maybe knew that person or met them once.” KnowsPersonsMetsScripts Author:Amanda Schull
“Nicholas Hytner, who directed Center Stage, is a huge ballet fan. He was completely open, as was Bruce Beresford, to get our perspective. "No, we wouldn't do this. Yes, we would do that. That's not realistic." So, I feel like Center Stage did well in that respect.” FeelsWellsFansStageHugePerspectiveRealisticBalletCenter Stage Author:Amanda Schull
“Center Stage focused on the drive and what it's like to be a student, and this is what it's like to be an adult and what you need to give up in the pursuit of that passion and that focus.” NeedsGivingPassionFocusStageStudentsGiving UpAdultsFocusedPursuitCenter Stage Author:Amanda Schull
“When I was in high school, my mom gave me a paperweight. It was when I was going through my 'not that interested in doing homework or really working on anything' phase and the paperweight said "If you're not the lead dog, the view never changes." And that's sort of the same thing, if you're not always working to be in the front.” IfsSaidSchoolViewsDogFrontsMomHigh SchoolMy MomPhasesNever ChangeHomeworkAlways Working Author:Amanda Schull
“I think much of my inspiration comes from nature. I feel alive when I take a long hike with my dog or when I just spend time outdoors, appreciating the beauty of this world. I even feel alive and inspired when I walk through farmers markets appreciating and learning about local fruits and vegetables.” ThinkingWorldFeelsLongInspirationWalksAliveDogThis WorldAppreciateFruitInspiredLocalsFarmersVegetablesEnd TimesMy DogSpend TimeFruits And VegetablesFarmers Markets Author:Amanda Schull
“I feel vulnerable when I am underprepared. This applies to underpreparedness with just about anything, especially work.” FeelsVulnerable Author:Amanda Schull
“I would remind people on the planet that this is the only one we have, and we need to take care of it. I would want people to truly consider what we do and how we treat the earth, the ecosystems, and animals we share it with, and think about the legacy we want to leave behind.” PeopleThinkingWantNeedsCareEarthAnimalBehindsSharePlanetsTreatsTake CareLegacyEcosystems Author:Amanda Schull
“When I am confronted with emotional pain, I try to allow myself the time to properly grieve. We are caring, emotional beings, and attempting to suppress pain will only cause it to negatively manifest itself in other ways.” WayTryingPainCausesEmotionalCaringGrievingManifestAttemptingEmotional Pain Author:Amanda Schull
“That being said, I am not one to feel sorry for myself. I believe it is healthy to honor one's feelings and do the best we can to learn and grow from them moving forward.” FeelsBelieveSaidFeelingsMovingI BelieveGrowsHonorHealthySorryMoving ForwardDo The Best Author:Amanda Schull
“I have different routines for different types of chaos. When I find myself swamped with work and surrounded by people, I try to carve out time to walk my dog alone so I can organize my thoughts.” PeopleTryingI CanDifferentWalksDogTypeChaosOrganizeMy ThoughtsMy Dog Author:Amanda Schull
“I also have a routine with breathing and visualization techniques that I go through when I feel overwhelmed or nervous.” FeelsTechniqueNervousBreathingRoutineOverwhelmedVisualization Author:Amanda Schull
“I think one of my biggest lessons so far in life is that hard work really does pay off. It may not culminate in the way you expected it to, but I have found that when I really put my head down and apply myself, I often get a good result.” ThinkingWayMayDoeHardLife IsFoundResultsPayHard WorkLessonsDown AndExpected Author:Amanda Schull
“I know that there is absolutely good in the world.” KnowsWorldGood In The World Author:Amanda Schull
“Love for me is comfort. I feel most loved and most capable of giving love when I am around people or in places that make me comfortable.” PeopleGivingFeelsComfortComfortableCapableGiving Love Author:Amanda Schull
“I give myself a Pilates/yoga hybrid mat class almost every day. I also continue to take ballet classes. Both of these practices help me to be aware of my body, my center, and how I move, both with my physical space and my mental space.” GivingHelpingBodyMovingSpaceClassPracticeYogaHelp MeBalletHybridPilatesBallet Class Author:Amanda Schull
“I also use that centering process I mentioned as a way to focus my mind and connect it to my physical body. I feel that when we are aware of our physical bodies, we become more aware of how we exist on the earth and more considerate of others with whom we share the earth.” WayFeelsMindUseBodyEarthProcessFocusSharePhysical BodyConsiderateCentering Author:Amanda Schull
“The work that I have been doing on television has been important to me because I have had the opportunity to portray very strong, intelligent women. It has been such a privilege to depict a woman that is independent, unapologetic, and resilient on both shows.” Has BeensImportantShowsOpportunityStrongTelevisionIntelligentIndependentPrivilegeVery StrongResilientUnapologeticIntelligent Women Author:Amanda Schull
“I think one of the big challenges about science fiction is finding truth to relate to as an actor.” ThinkingBigsActorsChallengesFictionFindingsScience FictionRelateBig Challenges Author:Amanda Schull
“Stage performance is obviously a much grander sort of depiction. The audience isn't right in your face as close as a camera lens gets.” FacesAudienceStagePerformancesCamerasYour FaceLensesDepictionCamera LensesStage Performance Author:Amanda Schull
“I think the idea of embodying the physical presence of a character is the same on stage and screen. There are just different levels of expression to keep in mind for each platform.” ThinkingMindIdeasDifferentCharacterLevelsStageExpressionScreensPlatformsDifferent Levels Author:Amanda Schull
“I love the process of creating a character; someone entirely different from myself, and depicting it, either on stage or screen.” DifferentCharacterProcessStageCreatingScreens Author:Amanda Schull
“I think there is a wonderful trend of strong female characters on television right now.” ThinkingCharacterStrongWonderfulTelevisionRight NowFemaleTrendsFemale CharactersStrong Female CharactersStrong Female Author:Amanda Schull
“I would remind people on the planet that this is the only one we have, and we need to take care of it.” PeopleNeedsCarePlanetsTake Care Author:Amanda Schull
“I am a huge animal lover. Growing up, my mother and I rescued countless animals - dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, even a turtle. I have been accused of caring more about animals than I do about people.” PeopleHas BeensMotherAnimalGrowing UpGrowingDogHugeLoversBirdCatCaringAccusedRabbitsAnimal LoveTurtlesAnimal LoverCaring More Author:Amanda Schull
“Acting for screen is very different from acting on stage, and then obviously when you dance... everything is a physical embodiment. But the discipline is the same approach. You have to take both things seriously; nothing well-crafted is by mistake.” MindWellsDifferentPhilosophyBodyActingMistakePsychologyStageDisciplineApproachMedicineScreensSensesEmbodimentSoma Author:Amanda Schull
