Today we will tell you what characteristics characterise an effective actor. Depending on whether we’re considering what constitutes a competent performer from the viewpoint of an audience or an actor, the definition changes. The audience quickly assesses the actor’s credibility and emotional impact. What is believable in one country today may not be believable in another country in the 1950s, for example.
As a result, since this article is intended to be helpful for actors, I will speak from the actor’s perspective when I answer the question, “What makes a good actor?” However, these are very subjective things and vary based on the individual’s experience, which is influenced by factors like the culture and time where they grew up.
A good actor is created by paying close attention to the action in the scene, responding with appropriate subtlety, conveying a wide range of emotions with the eyes, body, and voice, researching and studying the script to make interesting decisions that fit the character and meet the scene’s needs, and working with talented directors and editors.
Information about these qualities of an excellent actor is provided below, along with straight quotes from well-known actors who can describe them to you in their own terms.
Within situations, paying close attention
By fully reacting to everything and everyone in their make-believe world, talented performers can help the audience forget that they are acting, giving the impression that they are actually a part of it. Consider how Ben Kingsley (the guy with the spectacles) peers around from 0:48 to 1:05 in the scene below from Schindler’s List (1993), which gives the impression that he is actually in the scene.
Why? As a result, it conveys a reality distinct from the words and the situation being depicted. The universe communicates through it. This is what you see when you observe the brief glance he casts in the direction of the doors: a guy who is concerned about what this implies for his life and his future, as well as about who might enter those doors.
Continuity is evident when doing this while someone else is speaking. You may not pay attention to the details as an audience member. However, it adds to the tension and raises the emotional stakes. This enhances his portrayal and the scenario.
Why, then, is planning crucial? Isn’t it preferable to just adapt if I have to have the option of discarding everything I prepared? Ideally, actors are able to improvise emotional responses in a manner that is consistent with the character and story, which frequently results from intensive planning to develop a profound grasp of the character and story as a result of reading the screenplay.
Communicating feelings in a discreet manner
When contrasting plays, movies, and television, one can see another way that circumstance affects subtlety. In contrast to plays, the viewer in the cinema or on television can see the actor’s eyes much more clearly.
Consider TV close-ups or the size of the face on a massive movie theatre screen. Because of this, a lot of performers in films and on television focus on speaking with their eyes. In theatre, greater emphasis is placed on motions and body postures that can be seen from a distance.
One can see another way that context influences nuance by comparing plays, movies, and television. In contrast to plays, the audience in movies and on television can see the actor’s iris more clearly. Think about the scale of the visage on a huge movie theatre screen or close-ups on TV.
As a result, many actors and actresses in movies and television shows emphasise communicating with their eyes. Theater places more emphasis on motions and bodily positions that are visible from a distance. In addition to appearing more genuine, subtlety can allow the audience to develop their own opinions about the actor’s performance. When the audience is unsure of what you’re thinking, it can pique their curiosity or interest, and they may pick up on minute details that support their assumptions.
A show can become tedious if you internalise your emotions too much. Just enough nuance must be present in an actor’s performance for it to be engaging and understandable.
Evaluating the screenplay, doing research, and making decisions
The script should be read several times by talented performers as they attempt to learn, understand, and challenge everything they have been taught. You’re only beginning to learn the material when you assume you have everything (both your lines and all the other lines) memorized.
As a famous personal trainer once said, “You don’t start counting repetitions until your biceps are burning,” which is exactly what preparing for an acting role entails. The first step to being an excellent actress is simply remembering your lines; truly talented actors take it much further.
Research can help talented performers develop their characters. There are several methods to carry out this study. Reading books by or about the character (or people like them), speaking with people who have encountered them, learning the skills they possess, corresponding with the authors, and acquiring experiences comparable to those the character had are some study techniques.
