1. Enroll in
acting classes.
v Acting classes will help you discover your
strengths as actress. Some actresses excel at drama, while others are natural
comedians. You might discover that performing Shakespeare is your calling, or
that musical theatre is for you. In any case, acting classes teach you to
develop and inhabit your character, work with other actors and take direction.
v Improvisation classes are a good place to start.
Many people immediately think of comedy when they hear the word
"improv," but improvisation classes actually teach essential skills
for dramatic acting, too. Improvisational acting trains you to pay attention to
cues and respond quickly. You'll learn to naturally react to others' prompts
and silence your inner critic.
v Acting workshops will help you understand the craft
of acting from a different angle, through "scene studies." Typically,
you'll be assigned a few parts in from a few scenes, which you'll practice over
an entire semester. You'll participate in class discussions about the meaning
of the scene and the intentions of the screenwriter or playwright. Finally,
you'll be subject to critiques, and you'll be able to put the skills that you
learn into practice right away.
v When you advance past basic acting classes, you'll
have the option to take specialized classes for film or stage acting, which
require different skills. Experiment with both to figure out which suits you best.
v You may enroll in an acting program at a university
and pursue a degree in acting, but if you're not ready to commit to an
intensive program yet, try taking a few classes at your local community college
or theater arts school.
2. Explore acting techniques.
There are numerous approaches to acting, each of
which offer insight and training into accessing and portraying emotion.
v The Stanislavski Method is a step-by-step method to
building character, and includes script analysis. Stanslavski-trained actresses
include Stella Adler and Marilyn Monroe.
v The Meisner Technique focuses on action-based
character development and actor response. Meisner actresses include Tina Fey,
Jessica Walter and Naomi Watts.
v Method Acting involves adopting the behaviors and
mindset of your character, and immersing yourself in your character for the
duration of the production. Method actresses include Kate Winslet, Natalie
Portman and Tippi Hedron.
