One of the most interesting parts of acting is getting to experience the world through someone else's perspective. Every character comes with a different history, personality, set of circumstances, and way of responding to the people around them. As actors, we're responsible for making those differences believable, but sometimes the process of building a character can lead us toward familiar ideas about what certain kinds of people are supposed to look or sound like.
We've all seen versions of the strict boss, the overprotective mother, the socially awkward friend, or the intimidating authority figure. These characters appear so frequently in film and television that it's easy to develop an idea of how they should behave before we've spent much time examining the actual script.
The danger is that we begin playing the type of person rather than the individual.
When you're given a character who holds a position of authority, for example, you might instinctively lower your voice, become more physically controlled, or adopt a certain seriousness. Those choices may be appropriate for some characters, but they aren't automatically appropriate for every person who holds authority. Some people lead through warmth and humor. Others are deeply insecure about their position. Some are uncomfortable with confrontation despite being responsible for making difficult decisions.
The more specifically you understand the individual, the less you have to rely on recognizable behavior to communicate who they are.
I encourage actors to begin by examining what the script actually tells them. What do we know about this person's relationships? How do other characters respond to them? What decisions have they made, and what circumstances may have influenced those decisions? There is often much more useful information in the writing than we initially recognize.
It's also important to notice when we're filling in gaps with assumptions. If the script describes someone as wealthy, that doesn't automatically tell us how they speak, how confident they are, or what they value. If a character is shy, that doesn't mean they lack strong opinions. People are rarely as consistent or predictable as the categories we place them in.
Some of the most compelling characters contain contradictions. A person can be generous in one relationship and selfish in another. Someone who appears confident professionally may feel completely lost in their personal life. These differences aren't necessarily inconsistencies in the writing. They're often what makes the character recognizable as a human being.
Research can be helpful, particularly when you're portraying someone whose experiences are unfamiliar to you. But research should expand your understanding rather than give you a collection of mannerisms to imitate. You're looking for insight into the circumstances of someone's life and the ways those circumstances might influence their choices.
Working on character development in class gives actors the opportunity to explore these possibilities before settling on an interpretation. Sometimes another actor or a note from your coach will challenge an assumption you didn't even realize you were making. That can lead to a much more interesting understanding of the material.
At TLS Acting Studio, we work toward creating characters who feel like individuals with their own histories and perspectives. The more carefully you examine the person behind the dialogue, the more opportunities you have to create something specific and believable.
Enrollment is open for online and in-person classes in North Hollywood. If you're interested in developing your character work or learning more about the studio, reach out for scheduling and enrollment information.