"John Wayne suffered then and now from that single most misunderstood aspect of acting, that ALL actors play themselves. All actors are inhabiting a part, taking what’s written & making it into something that sounds natural coming out of their mouths..." https://www.rebellermedia.com/original/john-wayne-the-ultimate-movie-actor

"That Wayne did this so astonishingly well has led to generations of know-nothings dismissively expressing with the wave of their handkerchief, “He was just playing himself.” As if any of us, playing ourselves, could ever be half as captivating with 100 years to prepare...."

"Yes, he was playing himself, and doing it so well you didn’t think for a second he was acting. Now, kindly, fuck off."

"the lede is this: John Wayne was the best goddamn actor the movies ever saw. Period."

I call that bold talk.