Tip #6: Bring Your Characters to Life—Together!
As actors, we often leave past performances behind as we move on to new challenges. But what if you revisited those characters and gave them a chance to interact in an entirely fresh way? This exercise is a fun and powerful way to explore your versatility and deepen your characterisation skills.
How to Do It
Pick Your Top Three: Think back to the three favourite characters you’ve played—from self-tapes, auditions, or full productions. Choose the ones that excite you most or pushed you creatively.
Create a Scene: Imagine these characters meeting. What would they talk about? How would they interact? You can perform the scene live as an improv exercise, using props like chairs or hats to help with the transitions. Alternatively, film each character’s part separately and edit the clips together to create a polished conversation.
Focus on Distinctions: Make each character as distinct as possible. Use variations in voice, posture, and physicality to showcase their unique traits. As you craft your performance, remember to draw on your understanding and skills from Practical Aesthetics to ensure each character’s intentions and motivations are clear. Learn more about Practical Aesthetics here.
Why It Works
This exercise helps you strengthen your versatility, refine your improvisation skills, and reconnect with characters that inspired you. Whether you keep it private or share it on platforms like TikTok or Instagram, it’s a great way to push your creativity and remind yourself of your range as an actor.
Take It Further
Want to refine your skills even more? Join one of our courses at Acting Coach Scotland, where we offer in-depth training in character work, text analysis, and performance. Your journey to becoming a more dynamic and confident actor starts here.
Stay tuned for more tips in the Actor’s Edge series, where we focus on empowering you to stay sharp, motivated, and ready for whatever comes next.
