Why aren’t more actors doing Shakespeare?
AL: There’s a lot of things, I think. First of all, one has to have an appetite for it. It’s not the criteria like you’re going to be a big time actor if you do Shakespeare. Some of the greatest actors of all time never did Shakespeare. They couldn’t get around it. It’s not a criteria. It’s something that either appeals to you, or it doesn’t. There are a lot of great actors out there not doing Shakespeare. It’s what rings your bell. Sometimes it does, and sometimes it doesn’t. It’s not like I’m going around doing a lot of Shakespeare. Talk to other people who really have done Shakespeare and know how to do it. I think there’s a myth here with me and Shakespeare. Like I’m piped into Shakespeare. I’m not. Believe me. I like him the way other people do. I love him, really. I love his work. But I’m not here to be a representative and present Shakespeare to the world. He doesn’t need me, frankly. And he doesn’t need anyone. He’s been around a long time and he’s going to do fine. I’m not wor
