Q&A for How to Be a Great Actor

Strong actors aren't thinking just about serving up moments or playing up ideas or emotion, so much as being truthful. Another hallmark of a good actor is that you can be present and listening within a scene without being distracted by the camera, the audience, or anybody else that might be watching.

The first thing I'd like you to do is not think of it as a character. I'd like you to think of it as a person. When we think of acting as playing a character, we start to act, and acting is actually the absence of acting. We should call acting "not acting," instead of calling acting "acting." When I conduct a search for my character, there's the implication that I am not already that character, but I'm a living, breathing sentient human being, I can already play that character. I don't even need you to understand the character, all I need you to do is think your character's thoughts. We think acting is acting like something else, when in effect, acting is actually thinking the thoughts of the person that we're playing in that genre, in those given circumstances, and in that relationship.

You want to, of course, read the script and think about what your character would think if they were in the given circumstance or relationship.

Listening is the most important thing. Superb listening. It doesn't make a lot of sense, because you think as an actor it's all about talking. But anybody can say the lines. Anybody can memorize lines. The skill is in really hearing the other person. What do you think when you're hearing them? What do you think when they've said nothing at all? That's what sets the greats apart, is they're listening.

Yes. Some people get hired because they're naturally good at acting, and look exactly like the character the director is looking for. But if you don't have amazing natural skills, you may want to try acting classes first.

Start saving your money. Do extra chores around the house, or even see if you can do chores for neighbors. In the meantime, work on your acting skills. If your school offers drama classes or school plays, take part in these.

Confidence. Know your material and know about the role you are auditioning for. Don't fidget, be polite and professional, and be outgoing. Show your personality.

One of the great things about acting is that you don't need a lot of background! Before your audition, read over the part you will be trying out for. Try to imagine yourself as that character. Remember, it's not some random person. It's you. Being in character is essential for a great performance. Be confident, and don't be afraid to go for it!

You shouldn't be fearless. Nerves are good for you, since they tend to make you do even better. Also, you're an actor/actress, you need to be feeling as much emotion as possible. As for being comfortable on stage, be yourself and try to forget about your worries. If it helps, pretend no one else is there with you.

Make sure to empathize for what your assigned character is feeling, whether it's pain, joy, or anger. Channel a moment when you felt an extreme version of that particular feeling and show your emotion through that flashback. Another thing that can help is to use gestures and movements to make a point. For example, if your character is happy to see someone, rush close to that person and show some sign of physical touching. It will be convincing to the audience if you make personal connections like that.

Stage movement is your blocking. It's when you follow the stage directions that you will have hopefully written down when the director was telling you where to go during that scene. For example, if your director tells you to cross to stage right, you cross the stage, and go to the right side of the stage, according to the actor/actress.

There's nothing specific you need to eat, just try to maintain a healthy diet and stay fit, as acting can be a physically demanding job.

Yes! People of all ages can, with practice, become good actors. Maybe find a school drama group, or ask your parents to enroll you in a class to get started.

If you get a part on a TV show then you will be on TV.

The person with overall responsibility for the selection and interpretation of the works performed by a theater, ballet, or opera company.

According to Wikipedia, "The producer is responsible for the overall financial and managerial functions of a production or venue, raises or provides financial backing, and hires personnel for creative positions (writer, director, designers, composer, choreographer—and in some cases, performers)."

We all get better at everything that we do often, so pretend you're being a lot of different characters with different emotions and do this frequently. Challenge yourself. Take an hour and be a rural country girl with ambition, then be an old city woman with regret, then be a tired barista with dreams of an office job, an adventurer whose car broke down, or a transgender who lifts weights. Go wild, think of anything and what would convey this. The rural girl's ambition could be evoked with dreamy eyes, perhaps?

Not necessarily. Some roles do require singing and/or dancing, but plenty of others do not. Just don't pursue an acting career on Broadway!

See Overcome Stage Fright and related articles.

See Become an Actor and related articles.

Take acting lessons. The more, the better.

Yes! Being shy is totally normal, and even experienced people get nervous before auditions. The best way to overcome these feelings is to be confident in your audition materials, as well as yourself. Always learn and memorize your song or monologue at least a week before the audition, and practice, practice, practice. At the audition, walk and act confidently but not arrogant; you want to be polite. For more tips, check out any of the many articles on auditioning, and break a leg!

Start with facial expressions. Think of how you look when you're happy, angry, sad, or surprised and try to be able to make your face reflect these feelings on command. Looking in a mirror can help. Another thing you can do, is while delivering the lines, think of something that makes you feel happy/angry/sad or surprised.

Your question shouldn't be how to get a role, it should simply be "How to be the best actor/actress possible?" Which is, of course, practice, training and experience. You need to be a great actor to get a great role. Also, even if you give the best audition, you may not get the part, whether it is because you are a bit too tall or your eyes aren't the right colour, there are so many factors, just try to become the best actor possible.

Yes, of course! Acting is for anybody who wants to give it a shot. Just don’t jump right in, start with acting classes and community theater.