Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1054784
F rom the start, the SAG Awards has opened with an actor (and since 2003, several actors) sharing a brief personal story about the journey that enables them to say, "I Am an Actor ™ ." So far there have been 107 of these unique Actors' Stories, encompassing the entire spectrum of the improbable experiences that led up to that moment. For all of their differences, however, they all have one experience in common: every SAG-AFTRA member has far too many tales of rejection that would knock the less dedicated off their chosen path. Even those at the top have had to overcome discouragement. Here are six Actors' Stories that demonstrate the value of perseverance. JASON MERRIT T, GET T Y IMAGES/TURNER NET WORK TELEVISION "At my very first audition for the grade school production of Alice in Wonderland, the director glared at me and yelled out the following words of advice: 'Act beer.' I'm trying, Mom. I'm Tom Cavanagh and I'm an actor." — 2009, SCRUBS "I have oen been told I'm not thin enough, I'm not white enough, I'm not short enough, not man enough. Damn it, I am enough. I am Queen Latifah and I am an actor." — 2016, BESSIE DIMITRIOS K AMBOURIS, WIREIMAGE/TURNER NET WORK TELEVISION