What are the qualities that make a good actor?

[Yawper]

Posted: 6/13/08 at 3:57am

There are many opinions, I'm sure, but what are the essential qualities and characteristics good actors need to acquire or develop?

One specific thing I've wondered about is how self-consciousness is overcome or avoided. How can some actors let go and be complete goofballs when offstage it's really not in their character.

The ability some people seemingly have to turn emotions and personalities on and off is a little scary sometimes.

[keen on kean]

Posted: 6/13/08 at 9:30am

I have heard many interviews in which actors say that they are not self-conscious because they are not playing themselves on stage but someone else. If I don't like to swear or drink, for example, but my character does both, it is not inconsistent with my personal preferences because these are choices that the character (and the writer of the play) makes. But that takes a good imagination and a lot of careful observation of behaviors, to be able to re-create a person very different from one's own personality.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/13/08 at 10:55am

A good actor gives oral sex to 15 year olds.

A bad actor calls says "faggot" on a closed set.

[vmlinnie]

Posted: 6/13/08 at 10:57am

In that case, I'd better meet more good actors.


IMO, Realism, Believe-abiltity, and Professionalism.

[best12bars]

Posted: 6/13/08 at 11:06am

Many people can give a single good performance. Even non-actors.

But in my book, a really good actor has the following:

Believability (convincing in their work)
Versatility (able to embody a variety of characters)
Longevity (sustaining a quality of excellence over a career, not just an isolated instance)
Reliability (can be counted on to bring something wonderful and memorable to their work)

The list of people who have demonstrated "good acting" is a lot larger than the list of people who I would call "good actors."

[KrissySim]

Posted: 6/13/08 at 2:18pm

There are no set rules.

I understand best12bars opinion and he's right in a certain context, but not necessarily in every case. Versatility: some actors seem to be made for a specific role and none other. An isolated role can work, especially in in film. If it works, it works, no matter what the rest of his/her performances look like.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 6/13/08 at 2:29pm

huge c*ck. that's pretty much it.

[Weez]

Posted: 6/13/08 at 5:15pm

It's a cliche, but it's a cliche for a reason: to me, a good actor is someone who seems to be saying the words for the first time, as though they're just coming to them, as this post is (sortof) coming to me while I type. I get a fair bit of this from various 'Ugly Betty' actors, but John Simm is the absolute king of it as far as I'm concerned.

It's not just believability; I've seen pretty good actors who are turning in authentic performances. It's more an indefinable organic naturalness that goes above and beyond mere believability.

Updated On: 6/13/08 at 05:15 PM

[keen on kean]

Posted: 6/13/08 at 8:34pm

Weez - good point. I was not surprised to find that Patrick Stewart was able to give readings in MACBETH that gave even very famous speeches a sense of spontaneity. His "Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow" was the best I've ever heard.

[KrissySim]

Posted: 6/13/08 at 10:14pm

"It's not just believability.... It's more an indefinable organic naturalness that goes above and beyond mere believability."

Especially in film (the field in which I am working) a great performance can make you forget that you're looking at an actor performing a role. But to make that happen, everything else has to be right, the direction, lighting, setting, cinematography, sound, continuity, support actors... it's a relatively rare event.

[ahmelie]

Posted: 6/14/08 at 10:43am

I think one important quality would be charisma. I can't tell you how many student shows I've seen where an actor was doing everything perfectly right, there was discovery, struggle, realism, everything they needed to have in their performance... but I was still bored. A good actor must also make me *have* to watch them when they're on-stage.

Also, humility. I think an actor must be humble enought to fulfull the needs of the play instead of their own selfish desires to appear one way or another.

[ILoveMyDictionary]

Posted: 6/14/08 at 11:39am

Versitillity - be able to play a wide range of characters and emotions.

Truthfullness-not pretending to be sad, or pretending to be angry but actually feeling those things. Living truthfully under imaginary circumstances.

Also, the ability to really listen and respond to your scene partner and work off your instincts and not what is in your head is a huge part of good acting.

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 6/14/08 at 1:07pm

Updated On: 1/23/09 at 01:07 PM

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 6/15/08 at 10:44pm

Hands.