I do both like and dislike acting before a film camera. I like it because of the relief it affords me from the monotony of stage work.

This is particularly so if I am acting in a play which is enjoying a long run.

The monotony of playing the same part night after night for two and three years is obvious to anyone. It also confines one to the town (or very near it) where the show is playing.

Lack of variety in one’s work does not tend to restfulness. You get into a groove and, like Micawber, would welcome something to turn up to jog the monotony.

The Earth for a Stage

I always find film work strangely restful, which is a great comfort. And only a busy actor can appreciate the real significance of a restful occupation. In the production of a film there are numberless “waits.” Curiously enough, this waiting about generally gets on the nerves of most artists. But I always manage to rest more during periods of taking a film than on a day I have no film engagement.

Plenty of Variety

The scenes for film productions are for the most part conducted amid beautiful pastoral surrounfings, which I thoroughly enjoy and appreciate.

Further, cinema acting is interesting work as opposed to stage work. Freedom of movement alone is of tremendous assistance to an actor. The average space of a stage in most of the theatres in the Kingdom is twenty square yards.

In a film, space is almost illimitable, providing it is in the focus of the camera.

The advantages thus gained are inestimable, and enables actors and actresses freedom of movement they desire, but cannot obtain, on the legitimate stage.

Screen acting calls for quite a different form of expression too. The eyes play an important part, whilst without facial expression an actor who is successful on the stage would assuredly fail before the camera.

Evening-Dress in the Morning

My reasons for disliking film acting are several.

The horror of driving about the countryside or suburbs with a yellow face, wearing evening-dress at ten o’clock in the morning, I confess I do not relish.

A yellow make-up is, of course, essential for film acting. When it is confined to the precincts of a studio, comment would be superfluous, but outside it…

Several “Reel” Wedding Days

I was once suspected of being a German spy by a dear old lady when operating in St. James’s Park in a propaganda film.

But far worse than this! I have been married several times on the film. Once the inevitable crowd that assembles to watch a film  “take” thought it was a real wedding.

£250.000 for Five Years’ Work

I have received some tempting offers to visit the States and do film work. And I realise the wonderful money to be earned there. My best offer was made to me by D. W. Griffith, who offered me work there which was to realise £250.000 in five years.

I preferred to stay in England and act.

Owen Nares (The Picture Show, May 3, 1919)