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Beginnings: The Breakthrough Moment

John C. Reilly, Actor

"I was lying on the ground starting to cook like a piece of bacon."

When I was a little kid, I went to the local park in my neighborhood for drama class. I was very young, probably like 9 years old. I didn’t know anything about acting or theater or anything. It was a very working-class Chicago neighborhood. The teacher said we’re going to play some of these games. The first thing we’re going to do, I want everyone to lie down on the floor like you’re a piece of bacon. You’re in the pan but the stove has not been turned on yet. I’m going to turn the flame on now, and you’re all going to start cooking. I was lying on the ground starting to cook like a piece of bacon. And then I looked around and everyone was doing it. I realized I had found my people.


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