Acting : What type of actor/actress are you? by Alexander Andersen

Get Oscar or die trying type an actor! ;)

Just commit body and soul to the role. Some will be a stretch for the audience, but I firmly believe it is about commitment and your own belief that you are that character. The great actors seemed to just be playing themselves..that should give you a clue about commitment. You have your job and the audience has their job. When it comes to getting hired people will likely look for stereotypes most times. Good luck.

I have played lots of bad guys, which is always fun because you get to use those parts of your personality which you usually have to hide, but recently I have tried, and gotten, more good guy characters. I try to play different types of parts to increase my flexibility as an actor and avoid type casting, but in any situation I try to give the Director what he/she needs, and let them make the call. Being flexible is a good way to give them options for using you.

I look like a cop or bad guy but often play a politician also, cant help being type cast, nothing worse than a character who does not look the part unless they are an extremely good acter who can pull it off. That is a great actor.

I recommend you take a look at this article, 4 Ways to Nail Down Your Type http://www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/backstage-experts/4-ways-nail... Personally being a screen actor more than a theatre actor myself I've always been very aware of what my persona emanates out to others. It is surprising. I believed I'd suit victims, nervous types or lost souls but I don't have large seeking eyes, am not a small framed person and my posture is up-right , some say 'elegant', and not hunched. It is something in my eyes, perhaps or my toned hourglass body shape and up right posture that gets me roles of professional, capable women, from cruel dominatrix to well meaning CEO's. I look good in a suit. I am not mumsy with a kind face, I may be 'elegant' but I'm not soft. This is all exterior stuff. One look and this is what you get. Inside I'm a vulnerable, forgiving, shouldering all the troubles of the world type of person, wrestling with guilt more-often than not and wondering how I can guarantee security in all things instead of proactively getting on with things to ensure it. Two very different people, the inside and the outside. You have to distinguish between the two to 'see yourself' as others do. It's that first impression that 'sells' you! Well, there's the rub, it sells the image not 'you' as a person. The rest is up to you to show this product has depth. Everyone goes with first impressions. It's human. So casting directors will go for the right 'look' first. I have learned well how to behave as my 'look' suggests but I have the internal conflicts inside to draw on to give a character depth. I say I play against type but here I am talking about my personality. One director has taken and used my personality instead and it was a tough call to 'play myself'. I've now found a coach here in the UK that is focused on the actor 'knowing who they are first' so I'm sure I will explore this enough to 'rip my fig leaf off' more comfortably without the facade of someone I don't recognise as me to take that starke edge off the experience. I don't know if another opportunity like that will come along but I find part of success is to be prepared for the opportunity that may never happen. I expected my casting to change over time but even though the characters do change, quite dramatically with widely varying lives, histories, intentions and circumstances, in essence I have always been the capable soul, all the more desperate if they have lost their way. I'm the quiet one on set, keeping in a zone that's far from natural to me and then become the life and soul of the wrap party when I shock everyone with who I really am - arriving late so everyone is instantly at my natural mad, happy level , intoxicated by alcohol. I find the intrigue that makes you want to watch a character is there when the character has a secret that's never told but suits the 'value' or intention of the story they find themselves in. So, regardless of what 'type casting' may convey, eg inflexible , comfortable or otherwise, you still have to use skills as an actor to 'get there' and you can still use all of your inner resources to make that character multi-faceted and interesting.

Sara Dee, thank you for your time, that was a great piece you wrote. Inspirational. Best of luck with the coach, keep me updated! I'll make sure to check the link.

My pleasure and how sweet of you to respond. Glad to have participated it was an interesting question. I hope you get some more responses, they make for interesting reading.

Just read Cynthia White's book "Your Castable Types"-very practical approach.

Sounds very on topic, going to look it up. Thanks David!

Lots of good info here! I think I'm pretty type casted although I would like to definitely get a shot at other types of roles. I took a marketing class for acting one year and they had us take turns in the front of the room and introduce ourselves, all the while everyone circled from the 30+ types listed. Interesting experience.