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Josh McHugh is an actor living and working in Los Angeles.
He writes a blog about “The trials, musings and shenanigans of a working actor…” – Josh McHugh, He Acts
His writing is thoughtful, insightful and we are delighted to be sharing it here on Actor Hub.
He writes a blog about “The trials, musings and shenanigans of a working actor…” – Josh McHugh, He Acts
His writing is thoughtful, insightful and we are delighted to be sharing it here on Actor Hub.
“Have a secret.”
This was the easiest piece of advice I have received in an actor’s studio. These words (highly paraphrased) came from the mouth of perhaps one of the finest actors of our generation, Meryl Streep. She was asked about her process as an actress.
It was later shared with me by an excellent acting coach. These words changed my approach to character instantly and broke that wall between myself and the role I performed.
Consider this.
We ALL have secrets. Every single one of us hides something about ourselves deep down.
Acting is not about being someone different. It’s finding the similarity in what is apparently different, then finding myself in there
The guarding of this little truth informs so many of our decisions. They become who we are outwardly in many ways. They govern who we interact with and how we interact with them. They inform every relationship we have.
If you want a strong base to develop a character from as an actor, start by giving them a secret. It will help you understand your relationship with the other actor in the scene. It will give context to every line you say. It will help stir that inner-life that shows up so brilliantly on camera. Best of all, if you lose your way in a scene, you can always return to that little secret your character has and spring back to life.
What can that secret be?
Well, pretty much whatever feels right to you and your character. It should be something that is in line with the context of the story, certainly, but ultimately its only importance is that it gets you acting.
For an example, I will return to Meryl.
In the film “Kramer Vs. Kramer” She plays Mrs. Kramer, a woman in the middle of a divorce with her husband, played by another luminary, Dustin Hoffman. She says in her interview that she created Mrs. Kramer’s inner life with a simple secret, one that informed every scene she shared with Dustin: “She never really loved him.”
I believe in imagination. I did Kramer vs. Kramer before I had children. But the mother I would be was already inside me.
She never told anyone her character’s secret during the entire production of the film. It was for her alone, and it was used to stunning effect.
Meryl won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in Kramer Vs. Kramer in 1979.
In general, I typically refrain from giving acting advice. It is such a personal process, and honestly my own approach is in perpetual flux. I take what works, I disregard what doesn’t, and I stumble on.
However, I confess that I do suffer from a healthy dose of hero worship.
When Meryl talks, I listen with every nerve that accepts raw data.
The changes to my work through this simple piece of advice were subtle yet profound. Give it a try and see what happens.
Other Guest Posts from Actor Hub
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Often drama is based on a conflict of emotions and very often this is internal. Here is a simple trick to make sure you hide an emotion whilst playing the other in any acting scene. -
From Guest Author – Marci Liroff – Do you ever flub a line or get lost when you’re auditioning for a role? It’s a horrifying feeling when that happens and I’m going to tell you how to win over the room when this happens. -
Pete Bartlett is a leading London headshot photographer and an Actor Hub contributor. Here he shares his top tips for choosing a photographer, how to prepare for your headshot session and what to do after the shoot. -
It’s not everyday you get a legend in the back of your car, so why not interview him whilst he is sitting there. This is just what Will Rubio did when he drove Mandy Patinkin to the airport. -
From Guest Author – Marci Liroff – Many of you ask me if we expect you to be off-book. As you know, competition is SO stiff, and if the next guy is more prepared than you, then it doesn’t make you look very good. -
Often making the chnage from theatre acting to screen acting isn’t as easy as just telling your agent! You need to learn the skills of a screen actor and chnage your style. Here’s how to start the journey at home. -
From Guest Author – Actor Josh McHugh – “Yes, and…” The most important building block of improvisation is also perhaps the most powerful tool in my life and career. -
Here is our run down of the best books about theatre and acting from 2013. These are all must read books for anyone with an interest in acting and all deserve to fill a gap on your book shelf or some space on your kindle!
