Do actors’ need to identify with their roles?

Question

Why do people expect actors to be like the role they play? Is this logical? Does an actor have to be like a character in order to play him or her well?

Answer 1

No, but it does help if they can relate. Robert DeNiro, for example, has gone out of his way over the years to see things from his character's perspective. He drove a New York cab, trained as a boxer, was certified as a bus driver, and much more to prepare for roles he has played. Not all actors go to that extreme, but it has made him a superb actor over the years.

Answer 2

Some performers are not "real" actors. They merely read lines in the same way they would speak the lines for themselves. Many have succeeded in films, this way for many years. No matter what roles they play, they always seem to be the same character, but with a different name.

Among other actors, there are two basic kinds. There are those who can "wear" their roles like one might wear a costume. This type of actor practices his craft in such a way that he/she can generalize a character, in a believeable fashion. This type of actor can slip in and out of roles as needed. It is a genuine talent, and one that requires development and practice.

The other kind is the one who must "internalize" the role. In other words, the character comes out from within the actor. To a greater degree, this actor must identify more closely with the role. During the run of the character, the actor often needs to "stay in character," because it is not as easy as slipping in and out of a costume. This kind of acting takes surprisingly less practice. The actor acheives realism via research and the passion going into the role. It is quite possible for someone to be a "naturaL" at this kind of acting, without the years of practicing the craft of the other kind of player.

Answer 3

If you want to make the character believable then you have to become the character during the run of the play, show, movie. If people identify with the character then they see the actor as being authentic - even if they are just very good at the role and not like that "in real life". Actors are just people and they deserve their privacy, without people jumping out of bushes or chasing them down the road or through the supermarket.

Answer 4

No. Just look at Meryl Street, she has played dozens of characters from an Auschweitz survivor to musicals to comedies - all with perfect timing and perfect accents. The talented ones can play it all.
Actors do "become" the character they are playing for the time they are filming. Some stay in character after the end of the day and return the next to resume filming. I think Dustin Hoffman does that at times. When I was a little kid - about 10 - my parents took me and my brother to Jackson Hole Wyoming where Alan Ladd and Jean Arthur were filming "Shane." Alan Ladd came over and talked with us and posed with mom for a photo. Jean Arthur remained for the shoot off the set so she could remain in character when shooting returned. Both were fine actors, just different approaches.
Actors such as The Rock are limited to the action/tough guy role simply because they do not have the acting range and are usually typecast.

Answer 5

I find it hard to believe that actors have to identify with their roles. They may identify with certain roles, but do you really think Dustin Hoffman can identify with an Autistic human being? There's no way anyone who isn't Autistic can identify with, or relate to what's going on in theses persons' heads. People who play serial killers or pedofiles or psychos? It's too hard to identify with these roles, well i would hope anyhow.

Answer 6

have to? No, but a lot of times they are like them. A lot, but some actors sometimes play roles opposite them, like villians or different personality types.

Answer 7

I think they don't really need to identify with the roles they play. But I also think taht even if you play Hittler or Satan or whatever, you'll bring a little of your personality to it. Today I was watching the new chocolate factory movie w/ Johnny Depp and I really think he's a bit of a freak in real life... I don't know, you can kill your mother in a movie, but that doesnt mean you'll kill your own mom in real life. But the way you kill her even in a play, i think, shows a lot of you....

Answer 8

they need to identify with their roles, but they don't need to be like their character in order to play it well. in creating a character, they can either draw from their past experiences (this situation is exactly like my situation that i went through, so i'm going to act mad just like my situation made me mad), OR they can project emotions onto that character (this is how i would feel if i were in this situation, so this is how i'm going to make the character react). it doesn't even have to be personal - it's just using your gut reactions using the lines that you're given and how you think the CHARACTER would react. so it's identifying with the roles, but it's not being just like your role.

Answer 9

no, if you mean have to be just like their roles... actors don't have to necessarily identify with them. people just think they do because people sometimes take movies and t.v. shows very seriously. however, i do think an actor has to do research and dig deep inside themselves in order for them to accurately portray a role.

hope i answered your questions! ;)

Answer 10

of course, it helps them act better because they know how they are supposed to be feeling, the tone of their voice. It makes them better actors.