When I am cast in a movie where I feel that the woman’s part is more interesting, I usually start thinking about Spencer Tracy and Fred Astaire. They seem to be the most clear actors when working with women.

Nicholson suggests that when a film’s most compelling material belongs to a female character, a male actor must adjust his ego and technique to support the story rather than compete for attention. By invoking Spencer Tracy and Fred Astaire—both celebrated for generous, lucid screen partnering—he points to a model of “clarity” in acting: clean choices, attentive listening, and an ability to frame a co-star’s performance so it reads strongly. The remark implies that effective screen acting is often relational, and that a leading man can elevate a film by making space for a woman’s part to shine, turning collaboration into craft rather than rivalry.