Martha Plimpton Refuses to Make a Fool of Herself to Land a Job

There’s being an industry veteran, and then there’s getting your SAG card at 12 years old, as Martha Plimpton did. In fact, Plimpton achieved union status at such an early age, she isn’t even entirely sure which project did it! Here, the “Mass” actor takes a walk down memory lane, recalling the feat as well as the advice she may have told that younger version of herself. 

What is one performance every actor should see and why?
There’s like a bajillion of them. I’ll throw this out there: Gena Rowlands in “Gloria,” or Gena Rowlands in any Cassavetes movie—any actor in a Cassavetes movie. It’s just all about being totally present and totally doing it, and going in there and not taking yourself too seriously. Gena Rowlands, especially, [gives] a performance I could watch 1,000 times. I probably have. 

Do you have an audition horror story that you can share? 
Oh, my God, so many. You know what? I block them out. When they’re over, I just block them out. I don’t have any memory of them. I leave it behind and I don’t remember. 

What is the wildest thing you ever did to get a role?
Nothing. I think I might have read for something five times. I’m really bad at this, because I don’t do anything [wild]. I mean, I know other people who have done completely insane things, but I have never wanted anything bad enough to make a fool of myself.

Next one is simple: How did you get your SAG card?
I’m not even sure, because I was so young. It was either on the movie “Rollover,” which was an Alan J. Pakula film—rest in peace—[starring] Jane Fonda and Kris Kristofferson. I was on that for two or three days and I think I might have gotten my SAG card on that. If it wasn’t on that, then I got it on my next movie, which was “The River Rat.” I was one of three main characters in that film and I was 12.

Last one is, of course, what is the advice you would give to your younger self?
Just don’t take anything personally and have fun. Enjoy yourself. Because, you know, there were times when I took myself way too seriously. I took everything really seriously—and, I mean, that’s normal. That’s a natural phase to go through. I wouldn’t want anyone to deny themselves that period of total arrogance, because you learn a lot when you get knocked down.