what makes a good actor?

Question

please dont list actors & actresses. (if you want to do that pick one, your favorite & tell me why.)

...or you could just directly tell me what it is that makes a good actor "good". [which is what im looking for.]
thanks.

Answer 1

Natural talent does help, but even with mediocre talent, an actor can give a brilliant performance, as was proven by Charlie Chaplin, Sir Lawrence Olivier, Charlice Theron, Kevin Costner etc. on numerous occasions. The essence is that YOU should believe in the character you want to portray - and this takes research into the characteristics which makes the character believable. Many people think comedy is an easier genre, whereas Charlie Chaplin has said on many occasions it is in fact the most difficult of all genres. His success was in acting all his parts extremely seriously. It was exactly this seriousness which made his comedy stints so brilliant. Sir Lawrence Olivier (my own personal favorite for the all time best Shakespearean actor) studied "The Bard's plays" for more than five years before he did his first performance in Shakespeare theater! By then he new his Shakespeare backwards! Success in acting is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration!

Answer 2

Talent.

By that I mean that an actor is able to assume the persona of the character so well that it seems totally natural to the audience (not the actor) that they really are that particular person. (Speech and speech cadence, the way the character would carry himself/herself, body language, etc.)

You should really go to an acting school or research the types of acting schools. Lee Strasberg had a terrific school in New York City, I am sure that you could find out much information on the style of acting that was taught there.

Stage acting is much different than film. What I have noticed is that on the stage, the voice has to be projected, with the use of the diaphragm (much like a singer's voice) and reactions and cadence of the actor's dialogue are exaggerated.

In film, the actor CANNOT use stage technique, it will appear as "overacting." So, many times, an emotion is displayed by the eyes, or say, a parting of the lips, or clenching of the jaw (see Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca, Omar Sharif in Dr. Zhivago, or any of Sean Connery's or Michael Caine's movies). Nearly indetectable facial movements are the way that actors communicate emotion with the audience.

To me, if an actor makes me forget that he/she is actually the character (thus becoming the character) they have succeeded. I give examples: Meryl Streep, Matt Dillon, Jeff Bridges, Jessica Lange, William H. Macy, just to name a few.

To me those that don't make the cut are actors who are "personalities" , those that basically play the same person from movie to movie: Charlie Sheen, Kevin Costner, Meg Ryan, Jennifer Aniston, Sly Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger,

Answer 3

Well...

The best way to describe it would be to use the way I descibe good writing. I know the writing's good when I can "hear" the character's voice in my head, is when I'm able to forget I'm reading, and really connect with the story. Good acting is when you're able to forget you're watching say, Will Smith (the actor) on the screen, and start to think of him as the character he's playing. It's called suspension of disbelief, and if an actor can evoke that in his audience, he's good.

Now, for an example, go watch "Nell" and "The Silence of The Lambs", and pay attention to Jodie Foster. Two totally different characters and she "breathes life" into each of them. Like 'em or hate 'em, you can feel them... and that's the point!

Answer 4

A good actor is devoted to his or her craft. They need to be legit and speak good English. A good actor is not egotistical and works well together in a team. The actor also needs to be creative and put feeling in his work. The most credible and legit actors in today's society are Shakespearean, Broadway actors and people with degrees in acting. They learned their history of acting, being diversified and transition well into different settings. This makes a good actor.

Answer 5

I think a good actor or actress is one who makes me forget I'm watching them perform and feel as tho I'm experiencing the moment with them.

Answer 6

A good actor is someone who is passionate about what they do. They are commited to it. They work hard to improve themselves and are willing to take the next step.

Answer 7

Research the character...
forget how ''you" look and "endeavour to be what you desire to appear"...

Answer 8

someone that can trancsend feelings through eyes and not speaking