Jason Bateman On Acting Helping His Directing on 'Ozark': 'Part of Directing is Acting'

Jason Bateman flashes a smile alongside co-star Laura Linney while attending their Ozark: ATAS For Your Consideration Screening and Panel held at Netflix FYSee at The Crosby Street Hotel Screening Room on Sunday (May 20) in New York City.

The 49-year-old actor and Laura, 54, were joined at the event by their cast mate Julia Garner as well as showrunner Chris Mundy.

Jason recently opened up about how his acting has helped him direct episodes for the series.

“I’m garbage when I’m really nervous. So I take that to when I’m directing,” Jason expressed (via IndieWire). “We all do our best when we’re relaxed and when we’re feeling good. Part of directing is acting and that is why actors make decent directors. Not only do you understand what an actor needs, but we’re professional liars as actors. One of the easy tricks is to go up and if you want an actor to do something, compliment on them having just done it and you want them to do a little more of it. You gotta think of what’s the positive way to say this as opposed to ‘Stop doing that,’ because that’s gonna make them nervous.”