IGA: Self-Awareness and the Actor

One of the most important tools of The Inner Game of Acting is Self Awareness. 

The best actors seem to tread a fine line between the positive and negative sides of self focus. Self consciousness and self awareness. Two halves of the same coin. One is self improving, the other self-destructive.

Most actors often seem deeply and painfully self conscious and self critical as people. But the best ones are equally able to use that same sense of self as a powerful self awareness, manipulating that self in every performance to create the illusion of character for the audience.

Acting then is not the creation of character, it is not a mask or disguise we put on, it is a revelation of self.  Successful actors are able to limit the negative effects of self consciousness and use their deep and powerful sense of self awareness to produce captivating performances – often without any technique at all.  The most important technique of all is the conscious self aware ability to augment and manipulate ourselves in line with the needs of the script.

What is self awareness for actors? 

It is to be aware of the variable changing elements of you and your performance, to acknowledge them, to become aware of them so that we may change them at our decision, and so that we know if we are in the zone or not. Sometimes this is done by the best with little conscious thought at all. But to grow as an actor, a person may have to learn to develop this ability. If there is a talent to acting, it is the skill of non-judgmental self awareness.