The Power of Specificity in Acting: Bringing Characters to Life
By Jen Berry
What Does Specificity in Acting Mean?
In the world of acting, specificity refers to the precise and detailed choices an actor makes to create a believable and compelling character. It’s about moving beyond generalizations and vague portrayals to deliver a performance that is rich, nuanced, and deeply rooted in the character’s unique personality, background, and motivations. Specificity is what turns a good performance into a great one, allowing the audience to connect with the character on a profound level. So what is it exactly and why does it matter?
Why Specificity Matters
Authenticity: Specific choices make characters feel real. When an actor pays attention to the small details—such as how a character walks, talks, and reacts—they create a more authentic and relatable persona.
Engagement: Specificity grabs the audience’s attention. Detailed performances keep viewers engaged because they can sense the effort and thoughtfulness behind every action and line.
Depth: Specific choices add layers to a character. They help to reveal the complexities of a character’s inner world, making them more three-dimensional and interesting.
Consistency: Specificity ensures consistency in a performance. By making clear and detailed choices, an actor can maintain a consistent portrayal throughout a scene or an entire production.
How to Achieve Specificity in Your Acting
Character Research: Delve deep into your character’s background. Understand their history, relationships, and key life events. The more you know about your character, the more specific your choices will be.
Physicality: Consider how your character moves and holds themselves. Are they confident or shy? Do they have any physical quirks or habits? Physicality is a powerful tool for adding specificity.
Voice and Speech: Pay attention to your character’s speech patterns. Do they have an accent? Do they speak quickly or slowly? How do they express emotions through their voice?
Objectives and Motivations: Understand what your character wants in each scene and why they want it. Specific motivations drive specific actions and reactions.
Subtext: Think about what your character is really saying beneath the surface of their words. Subtext adds depth and complexity to your performance.
Emotional Life: Tap into your character’s emotional world. What are their fears, joys, and insecurities? How do these emotions influence their behavior?
Practical Exercises for Developing Specificity
Observation: Observe people in real life. Take note of their mannerisms, speech patterns, and interactions. Use these observations to inform your character work.
Journaling: Keep a journal for your character. Write from their perspective about their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. This exercise helps you internalize their inner world.
Scene Study: Break down your scenes into beats and analyze your character’s objectives and actions in each moment. Make clear and specific choices for each beat.
Improv Exercises: Engage in improvisational exercises as your character. This helps you think and react as they would in various situations.
Physical Exploration: Experiment with different ways of moving and speaking until you find what feels true for your character. Try rehearsing scenes with exaggerated physicality and then dial it back to find the right balance.
The Art of Specificity
Specificity in acting is what transforms a performance from ordinary to extraordinary. It requires an actor to be meticulous, thoughtful, and deeply connected to their character. By making specific choices, actors can create performances that are not only believable but also captivating and memorable. The other beautiful thing about specificity is that your choices are what set you apart. Your choices are going to be completely different from another persons for the exact same role and as a result you will get two very different takes on the same character. So, the next time you prepare for a role, remember to dive into the details and bring your character to life with specificity. Create something memorable.
XO,
Jen
