The difficulty many young actors have creating multi-dimensional characters often lies in the degree of self-knowledge they possess. Before you start analyzing characters you need a point of reference.  Want to be an actor? Then start working – on yourself. 

Characters on the page confront challenges that often shake them to the very core of who they are.  Sometimes they know very well what drives them and sometimes they are completely unaware.  Actors must understand the very real emotional life of the character and connect with it if they are to tell their story so that others will recognize themselves in it. To do that you must have some experience navigating your own inner world.

Acting problems are often life problems. If you have difficulty revealing some aspect of yourself in life, it certainly won’t be easier when you get onstage or in front of a camera.

Acting teacher Eric Morris’ personal inventory exercises are an excellent way to access a window into your subconscious – where your talent lives. It’s essentially a series of stream of consciousness monologues responding to the question “how do I feel?”  I encourage you to look them up and do them daily.

Think of yourself as a character in your own life.  Who are you? Why do you do what you’re doing at any given moment?  What do you want?  Why? What are your obstacles?  What is your big dream?  How do you respond to your circumstances? How do you feel about yourself, your world and the people and things in it? 

Become curious about other people in the same way.  Why more actors are not reading about how people think and behave (psychology or body language to name just two) is baffling to me.  Therapy, journaling, acting class, exercise, and meditation are all excellent ways to increase your self-awareness.  Think of it like going on a date with yourself.  You will be surprised by all of the surprising things you will learn as you get to know yourself better.

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All my best,

Philip

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Philip Hernandez is a respected acting teacher and singing coach in NYC. He is also the only actor in Broadway history to play both Jean Valjean and Inspector Javert in Les Miserables. He created principal roles in Broadway’s Kiss of the Spiderwoman and Paul Simon’s The Capeman. You may also know him from his many television appearances: The Blacklist, Gotham, Blue Bloods, The Path, Bull, Nurse Jackie, Elementary, Person of Interest, Law and Order, Hostages and Damages to name a few. For information about acting lessons CLICK HERE or singing lessons CLICK HERE. 

Follow him on twitter @philip24601, on Instagram @philip24601 and on Facebook at @philip24601.