Identifying your type is one of the most important conclusions you have to draw as an actor. Whether you are new to the acting world or have been working in the industry for years, quickly and accurately assessing your strengths as an actor can help you succeed.
If you’re looking for tips on how to find your type as an actor, then look no further! This blog will mention excellent tips that can point you in the right direction and help you find success in this exciting industry.
But first, let’s briefly learn more about the most common actor types and how they are determined.
How Are The Actor Types Determined
An actor’s type is determined by five key characteristics that are often used in character breakdowns. These include:
- Gender
- Age range (both broad and specific)
- Physicality (including height or weight differences)
- Ethnicities (such as skin tone/appearance if applicable)
- Personality traits (like how they act on screen)
- Job title (which they can play to perfection)
Different actor types are then developed based on the combinations of these five personality characteristics, some of them which are:
- Bad boy biker
- Leading Lady
- Dumb Jock
- Girl Next Door
- Angry Old Man
- Geek
- Queen bee
Now that we know how the actor types are determined, let’s move to find yours.
How to Find Your Type as an Actor
To become a successful actor, you must find your type. You have to identify the roles that best fit your personality and natural acting abilities.
Let’s discuss how to find your type as an actor and take the necessary steps toward becoming a successful performer.
- Assess Yourself Thoroughly
As an actor, it is essential to know your type. Your type is the role you are most likely to be cast based on your physical appearance and personality. To determine your type, first look in the mirror and honestly assess your face, weight, ethnicity, and personality.
For instance:
- Pay attention to your facial features, hairline, and skin tone.
- Do you have a thick accent? Listen to your voice.
- Do you sound smart and articulate when you talk, or do you sound uneducated?
Be honest with yourself. Once you clearly understand your physicality and how you come across to others, you can begin to narrow down the types of roles you would be best suited for.
For example, if you are a plus-size woman with a bubbly personality, you may be a perfect fit for comedic roles. You may be best suited for action or thriller roles if you are a tall man with a deep voice.
Knowing your type as an actor will help you to audition for roles that are authentic for you and that you are more likely to get cast in. As they say, “typecasting is not a dirty word”. Embrace your type and use it to your advantage!
- Ask Others For Feedback
To find your type as an actor, it is crucial to ask for feedback from your relatives, friends, and colleagues. Ask the people who don’t know you well enough to describe you using ten adjectives and list them down.
Post on social media and ask people to judge your personality traits and give you their honest feedback. Once you have the adjectives people use to describe you, you can start narrowing down your type.
For example, do you tend to play funny and quick-witted characters? Or do you usually take on more dramatic roles?
If you are frequently described as “outgoing” or “energetic,” you might be suited for comedic roles. If you are described as “intelligent” or “thoughtful,” you might like dramatic roles more. Use this information to help narrow down the types of roles for your acting career.
By taking these steps, you’ll get a better sense of how others perceive you—and what kind of roles are best suited.
- Review Your Previous Acting Roles
One of the best ways to know your actor type is to review your past acting credits and see if you can spot any patterns.
Are you constantly being cast as the “joker” or the “straight man”? Are you always playing funny, quirky characters or more serious ones? Make a list of all the roles you’ve played, and see if you can identify any common thread running through them.
You may find that you’re drawn to playing certain characters or that you’re especially good at a particular style of acting. It could be that they’re all period pieces, require a certain accent, or are all comedies.
Whatever it is, identifying your patterns can be a significant step toward understanding your type.
- Imagine Yourself Playing Different Characters
You must watch many films, shows, and plays to find your type as an actor. By studying the characters, you will see which types you could play well. For each character, envision yourself in that role.
As you watch more and more productions, you will begin to narrow down the types of characters you are best suited for. Then, list the types of characters you feel you could do well.
Once you understand your strengths, you can start to audition for roles that fit your type.
- Attend Workshops & Courses For Assessments
By attending workshops and courses for assessments, you will be able to understand what kind of roles you are suited for and what you need to work on. The great thing about these workshops and courses is that experienced professionals usually conduct them with a wealth of industry knowledge.
This means that you will be able to get unbiased feedback about your performance and learn from the best in the business.
While it may cost money to attend these courses, it will be worth it in the long run as you can hone your skills and become the best actor you can be.
Conclusion
As an actor, it is essential to know your type to book the best roles. Luckily, there are a few time-taking but convenient ways to determine what types you best fit, which have been mentioned in this blog.
By doing some research, exploring different character types, and watching shows, you can get a good sense of what parts you should be going out for.
With a little effort, you can find the right type for you and start booking the acting jobs that showcase your strengths as an actor.