Acting : RB's April Challenge (day 2) by Geoff Hall

So, so true. I agree with these actors 100%. I believe most successful actors and writers have many, many issues in their lives that allow them to create in such a way that not only can they relate more to the average person, but also discover something out about themselves in the process. I know in my personal experience as a writer, somehow my characters have bits and pieces of me in their personality and issues that they deal with. It's a learning experience as a writer to see my problems written out and how I make the character handle such. So, no to therapy for both actors and writers, we wouldn;t be able to be who we are if everything was brought to light and solved.

Yes @Izzibella, I think it's a myth to think we can ever in this life get 'everything sorted'. It would certainly make life boring and probably our stories too. Imagine writing fully rounded characters! I like to write them with sharp edges, a little bit missing with a hint of darkness; even my heroes.

Life experience is key. Couldn't agree more. Life is a roller coaster so use it :)

I appreciate what these guys are saying. I also think it's important for actors to live a thoroughly examined life in order to play well-rounded characters. I think sometimes people have opinions or ways of reacting that they've never researched for themselves; so when the time comes for the actor to portray a certain facet of a character, emotional depth is lacking.

Hi @Jackie, I've just posted an article about Sir Alec Guinness and I think he was the master of what you're talking about. He understood his characters so wonderfully well.

Loved the interview! Is there really such a thing as a well-balanced actor?! haha

@Olga, I think I'd hate to be a 'well-balanced' person. How boring!

I do think it's interesting for me that different parts resonate with me at different times. These actors put it in to words that were a lightbulb to me. You know, ugh, what I am trying to say is that depending on what is happening personally in an actors life, a part may resonate with you that previously you thought you didn't get it. i.e one does not have to BE a mom to play a mom, but one may be able to relate to the grief of losing a child BECAUSE of a recent loss in another way, that five years ago couldn't grasp

Hi @Suzanne, as for the actor, so for the writer. I think life's experiences help us add depth to what we do. The reason I'm writing so 'late' in my life, is that I obviously needed time to have a whole lot of experience filter through my brain, so that I could then tap into, for various plots and characters.