INSIDE OUTdone a bit from her very popular routine portraying a mildly sadistic
telephone operator. I asked her how she managed to send out
such a perfect subtext of her character. "Even the twisting of
your foot when you needle a customer is the perfect gesture of a
satisfied sadist," I remarked. "The vague caressing of your breast
sends a subtext of sadness and loneliness that adds to the depth
of the character. How do you do it?"
Tomlin hesitated, frowning. Then, with a little smile, she shook
her head. "I honestly don't know. I never realized that caressing
myself signified loneliness until you mentioned it, but it does, of
course. What I do," she said carefully, "is become the woman. I
get into her, feel the way she feels, think the way she thinks,
and then everything flows from that. I do what she would do, not
what I, as an actress, think is right."TRADING PLACES
Based on the ideas behind the Method, role reversal is one of
the best techniques for learning to empathize with someone else.
I had an experience with this some time ago when I worked for
a small drug company based in New York.
After five years of flawless work, the secretary to the head of
sales told her boss that she was quitting. I was in Tom's office
when Linda dropped this bombshell, and Tom shook his head in
bewilderment. "You can't do this to me!" He turned to me. "She's
the best girl I ever had!" Then he said to Linda, "This place
will go to pot without you. If it's a raise ..."
Linda shook her head. "Money has nothing to do with it.
It's... Well, it's your attitude."