Character Actor is a blog about character acting and how to get into character while acting.
A character actor or character actress is a supporting actor who plays unusual, interesting, or eccentric characters. The term, often contrasted with that of leading actor, is somewhat abstract and open to interpretation. In a literal sense, all actors can be considered character actors since they all play “characters”, but in the usual sense it is an actor who plays a distinctive and important supporting role.
A character actor may act in lead roles on occasion, although typically they will play the leading role in films with smaller budgets and supporting roles in films with bigger budgets. They may also be seen as less glamorous than mainstream leading actors. Generally, the names of character actors are not featured prominently in movie and television advertising on the marquee, but are secondary players in films whose primary purpose is to support the lead players.
Character actors tend to play ordinary people; they frequently have problems relating to others and personal problems that make them interesting. They often lack confidence, are insecure, experience failure because they do not conform to society’s expectations of success and are often troubled by their past experiences. By contrast, leading actors often play more glamorous roles with extraordinary personalities and great confidence; their characters often have no personal hang
A character actor is a supporting actor who plays unusual or eccentric characters. The term, often contrasted with that of leading actor, is somewhat abstract and open to interpretation. In a literal sense, all actors can be considered character actors since they all play “characters”, but in the usual sense it is an actor who plays a distinctive and important supporting role.
The term is used primarily to describe television and film actors, and is less used to describe theater actors. An early use of the term was in the 1883 edition of The Stage, which defined a character actor as “one who portrays individualities and eccentricities”. Actors with a long career history of playing character roles may be difficult for audiences to recognize as being the same actor. Unlike leading actors, they are seen as less glamorous.
Generally, the names of character actors are not featured prominently in movie and television advertising on the marquee, since a character actor’s name is not expected to attract film audiences. Some character actors have distinctive voices or accents, or they develop memorable mannerisms. A character actor with a long career may not have a well-known name, yet may be instantly recognizable. During the course of an acting career, an actor can sometimes shift between leading roles and secondary roles. Some leading actors
Character actor is a theatrical term for a supporting actor who plays unusual, interesting, or eccentric characters. The term, often contrasted with that of leading actor, is somewhat abstract and open to interpretation. In a literal sense, all actors can be considered character actors since they all play “characters”, but in the usual sense it is an actor who plays a distinctive and important supporting role. A character actor may play characters who are very different from the actor’s off-stage real life, while in another sense a character actor may be one who specializes in minor roles.
An example of this would be someone like Timothy Q. Mouse in Dumbo or B.D. Wong in Jurassic Park. The term is generally regarded as having been coined by Joseph Krumgold and popularized by Laurence Olivier’s performance as Prospero in Shakespeare’s The Tempest (1948).
Some character actors develop a cult following with a particular audience, but many others do not achieve star status within the film industry due to the stylistic limitations of their acting range or the lack of opportunity to play leading roles. For example, Robert Hardy of Harry Potter fame had much success playing villainous characters; however, he was unable to make much headway with his career in Hollywood because he played such characters
Character acting is a specialised craft and it is not easy. Every time you take on a new role, you have to start from scratch. It’s not like doing a leading role that fits your personality easily. You have to do a lot of research on the character, but only once you know who they are can you bring them to life in the film/tv show/play.
In character acting, there is no such thing as typecasting either. Even if someone has seen you play a certain type before, they will still expect something different from you. I’m often asked if I always play the same type of character – but that’s impossible!
Character actors are usually older than the leading actors and therefore tend to be more experienced. In fact, I’ve heard that some people think it’s better for your career to be an actor if you’re over 50 because you’re more likely to get better roles then. There are many things that can prevent an actor from getting good parts – ageism being one of them – but age alone should not stop anyone from becoming successful!
It’s worth remembering that most people’s careers don’t really start until their 40s or 50s anyway so even if it takes longer than expected, keep going until your big break
Character actors are the backbone of Hollywood films. Without a talented group of character actors, directors would have no one to call on when casting their films. Character actors are versatile, experienced actors who specialize in playing eccentric or unusual people rather than leading roles. They often take on supporting or minor roles, but many have achieved considerable success and fame throughout their careers. If you want to become a character actor, start by working in your local theater community or taking acting classes to build up your resume and experience. You can also try contacting casting agents so they know you’re available for work as a character actor!
Character actor: a character actor is an actor who plays unusual or eccentric characters. The term, often contrasted with that of leading actor, is somewhat abstract and open to interpretation. In a literal sense, all actors can be considered character actors since they all play “characters”, however in the usual sense it is an actor who plays a distinctive and important supporting role.
Character actors are usually identifiable by their physical type rather than by their personality, although this can be blurred when an actor with a strong personality undertakes character roles.
Character actors tend to play the same type of role throughout their careers, often to enhance their career and become more widely known. For example, English comedian Charlie Chaplin played the Tramp throughout his career. Alec Guinness played multiple memorable roles in Star Wars and Lawrence Olivier played multiple Shakespearean characters. Some character actors become so identified with a particular role that they are almost never seen out of it.
In some cases, the character’s name has become synonymous with the actor who portrays him; examples include Sterling Holloway as Kaa in Disney’s The Jungle Book; Quentin Crisp as Quentin Crisp; and Robin Williams as Mrs Doubtfire.
Character actors can play a variety of types, although lead actors who specialize in particular
Character acting is a subset of the acting profession that comprises actors and actresses who specialize in playing character roles.
These actors tend to take on supporting roles and smaller, more specific roles. Character actors are often well known for their appearance, eccentricity, and body language. Often stereotypical in appearance, these actors may be used to play a certain type of role or accent that is considered typical for their nationality or ethnicity. For example, a young actor may play a shy farm boy or an old man may play a wise grandfather.
Character actors have become more popular with the advent of television. Because there are more opportunities for character actors on television than in films, they can use television as a stepping stone to greater recognition in film.
