There's kind of no rhyme or reason to what is appealing to any given actor. It just is, or it isn't. It's kind of like dating. You either connect to someone or you don't. You can't really say why.

In this quote, Katherine Waterston draws a comparison between acting and dating, suggesting that both involve a certain level of unpredictability and chemistry. She explains that there is no logical or systematic way to understand why an actor might feel drawn to a particular role or why they connect with certain people. It simply "is" or "isn't," indicating that sometimes attraction, whether to a role or a person, cannot be easily explained or quantified.

Waterston's mention of dating highlights how personal connections, both in romantic relationships and in professional settings like acting, can often defy explanation. Just as two people may either connect or not in a relationship, an actor may feel an immediate affinity for a project, character, or collaborator, without being able to fully articulate why. This adds an element of mystery to both acting and relationships, where feelings of compatibility or attraction sometimes emerge without clear reasons.

The quote also speaks to the subjectivity involved in the creative process. In acting, as in dating, personal preferences, emotions, and intangible factors often guide decisions. Waterston implies that authenticity and instinct play a significant role in both fields, making it difficult to explain or predict why one person or project resonates with an actor over another.

Ultimately, Waterston’s quote reflects the mystery and emotional resonance that drive both personal and professional connections. It emphasizes how human interactions, whether in love or art, often involve unpredictable forces that cannot be easily analyzed or understood, yet still play a central role in our experiences.