Q&A for How to Look Sleepy

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How do I act like I'm sleepy when acting or performing?

Greg James Blount
Acting Coach & Director of Talent Development
Greg James Blount is an Acting Coach, Talent Development Director, and co-owner with his wife of the Green Room Acting Studio based in Boca Raton, Florida. Greg has over 30+ years in the talent industry. His online acting studio trains hundreds of students each month and has been responsible for many actors being discovered and gaining representation, including Kira Kosarin (Nickelodeon's The Thundermans), Kayden Muller (Disney’s Villains of Valley View), Colin O’Brien (WONKA, Dear Edward), Cade Sutton (Disney's Kirby Buckets), and Christopher Cassarino (HULU’s Reasonable Doubt, NBC's New Amsterdam). Greg also owns Sound Tree Entertainment and has produced several award-winning films and TV shows. In May 2024, he directed his first feature film, The Tan Man. Greg has a degree in film production and a minor in fashion photography from the University of South Carolina.

Greg James Blount

Acting Coach & Director of Talent Development

Expert Answer

First of all, remember what your body would feel like if you were terribly tired. You could drop your shoulders, let your movements become slow and onerous, and with your half-opened eyes blinking slowly. Also let your voice become soft, drag slightly on words, and do natural pauses when speaking, as if your mind just can't keep up. But remember not to overexaggerate it but to do it subtly and naturally. The aim is to make the audience believe that your character is actually tired and sleepy and not playing pretend.

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Question

How can I fool my parents who know these tricks?

Minnatron

Community Answer

Stay up late one night and analyze yourself. How do you yawn, blink, and how do your facial features change? Does your face slouch? Are your arms slower to react? Do your legs bump into more things? Study yourself in the mirror, and write/record these things. Then practice them until you can instantly shift into this persona. Don't think of it as a 'sleepy look'. Consider it a mask. Wear it, become it, and you'll be all the more realistic.

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Question

How do I do circles under my eyes?

Community Answer

You could use eye shadow and apply it under your eyes.

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Question

How am I supposed to act like I am sleepy if I am not good at acting?

Community Answer

If you can't act sleepy, act sluggish and walk slower. You could even use makeup to look like there are circles under your eyes.

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Question

If I just say I'm sleepy and do all of those things, they'll probably know what I am trying to do. How could I be even better?

Community Answer

Just don't sleep for a while. Then, you will actually be sleepy and it will be natural and convincing.

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Question

I have permanent rings under my eyes, is that bad?

Community Answer

No, it's not bad. Make sure you're getting plenty of sleep and drinking plenty of water, but for some people dark circles are genetic, and there's not much you can do about that. If you don't like the way they look, you can apply a little concealer.

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