Robert De Niro in Salon: On Instinct and Imagination

In a rare and revealing interview in Salon, Robert De Niro talks about his approach to acting and the influence of one of his teachers, the legendary Stella Adler:

With writing, great writing especially, you see how the material affects everything on a grander scale, so that this character … represents an attitude of the world, or this part of humanity, if you will. Stella gave me that sense when you’re reading these characters they represent more than just themselves but they are themselves in a very real way. That made an impression on me; she taught how acting applies to a bigger vision.