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Why is it the mark of a "good actor" is the ability to weep & wail?? |
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#1 |
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Why is it the mark of a "good actor" is the ability to weep & wail??
Bit mystified as to why "weeping & wailing" seems to often be the criteria by which good acting is judged?
I'm thinking of 2 good examples from recent months in EE Adam Woodyatt cried a river after Lucy's death & got tonnes of praise for "good acting".Similar is now happening with Kellie Bright for doing much the same. I'm not belittling either of these actors- I think they're both great, but why is the particular emotion of appearing miserable so often used as a marker of good acting? And how do you define "good acting" anyway?? |
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#2 |
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An actors job is to convince an audience that he/she is actually living the life of the character in a story. So if an actor can convincingly portray an emotion that is as raw as grief then it's generally considered a job well done.
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#3 |
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Quote:
An actors job is to convince an audience that he/she is actually living the life of the character in a story. So if an actor can convincingly portray an emotion that is as raw as grief then it's generally considered a job well done.
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#4 |
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Agreed. Crying convincingly is one of the most difficult things to pull off. Some people notably Dev in Coronation Street are bad at it. Kellie Bright does it very well. Adam Woodyatt is great at crying. I think it is the mark of a good actor.
Take another Actor who's regarded highly here- Maddy Hill. We havent seen her doing a good bawl, but she seems a good actress, simply because her delivery is so good. She just sounds so natural when she delivers her lines, you'd never think they were words written on a page given to her, she delivers them with real ease, like theyve come out of her own head. |
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#5 |
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Yes but there are other emotions to convey. One of EE's biggest actors, Shane Richie is an absolutely FANTASTIC cryer, but certainly on DS he isnt widely regarded as a good actor.
Take another Actor who's regarded highly here- Maddy Hill. We havent seen her doing a good bawl, but she seems a good actress, simply because her delivery is so good. She just sounds so natural when she delivers her lines, you'd never think they were words written on a page given to her, she delivers them with real ease, like theyve come out of her own head. |
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#6 |
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Maddy Hill is good I agree. She comes over as very natural in her role. One of the things I think which is difficult to pull off is "giving birth" without laughing. I don't think I've seen Shane Richie cry. I can't stand Alfie because of his cheeky chappy annoying character.
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#7 |
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This is something I think 16 year old Mimi Keene pulled off impeccably. Realistically doing a portrayal of giving birth seems to be a good challenge for an actor and I think she did really, really well. The emotion you could feel from her in those scenes also was so effective.
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#8 |
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Agreed. Crying convincingly is one of the most difficult things to pull off. Some people notably Dev in Coronation Street are bad at it. Kellie Bright does it very well. Adam Woodyatt is great at crying. I think it is the mark of a good actor.
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#9 |
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Crying
Giving birth Being Drunk I think these are hard to do |
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#10 |
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It's a difficult one as I think portraying grief through crying is very difficult to do, so should be part of what makes a good actor. However, that is only one part of it. As mentioned with Maddy Hill, it's also a natural delivery of lines that's important. Someone like Michael French , who's a superb actor is David onscreen, as is Lindsey Coulson . I also think another good indicator is chemistry with other actors.
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#11 |
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I've always heard that it is much more of a challage to be a comedic actor. Its harder to make people laugh than it is cry. Maybe not so much in soaps as the comedy character is usually just playful.
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#12 |
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Quote:
Bit mystified as to why "weeping & wailing" seems to often be the criteria by which good acting is judged?
I'm thinking of 2 good examples from recent months in EE Adam Woodyatt cried a river after Lucy's death & got tonnes of praise for "good acting".Similar is now happening with Kellie Bright for doing much the same. I'm not belittling either of these actors- I think they're both great, but why is the particular emotion of appearing miserable so often used as a marker of good acting? And how do you define "good acting" anyway?? There are some actors (not necessarily soap) that I recognise must be technically 'good' as they obviously have the respect of their peers as they win awards voted on by the industry and casting directors hire them again and again. But they do nothing for me. As far as i'm concerned the mark of a good actor is whether I have felt moved by their performance - either to anger, tears, frustration, mirth. It does seem like weeping and wailing are often the barometer by which actors are judged which seems a little limited. I have to disagree about Woodyatt and Bright though as I think the most powerful performances have been in the quieter moments - Woodyatt's body language in the episodes straight after Lucy's death was masterful in conveying his feelings and I've been praising him to high heavens for decades - certainly since the Cindy/Wicksy triangle. |
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#13 |
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It's a difficult one as I think portraying grief through crying is very difficult to do, so should be part of what makes a good actor. However, that is only one part of it. As mentioned with Maddy Hill, it's also a natural delivery of lines that's important. Someone like Michael French , who's a superb actor is David onscreen, as is Lindsey Coulson . I also think another good indicator is chemistry with other actors.
It is about believing that they are a character. As you mentioned, Michael French is incredibly. Every cell of his body is in character, even when he isn't saying anything and David Wicks is totally different to Nick Jordan even though there are little physical differences such as clothing or hair styles. To a certain extent it is easy for an actor to seem 'different' in roles if they are using different accents, period costumes or caked in make up - much harder to convey differences when they are using the same accent, are dressed in similar ways. |
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#14 |
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It's a very good point. Acting, like beauty o's often in the eye of the beholder - it annoys me when people cast their opinion that an actor is good or bad as fact.
There are some actors (not necessarily soap) that I recognise must be technically 'good' as they obviously have the respect of their peers as they win awards voted on by the industry and casting directors hire them again and again. But they do nothing for me. As far as i'm concerned the mark of a good actor is whether I have felt moved by their performance - either to anger, tears, frustration, mirth. It does seem like weeping and wailing are often the barometer by which actors are judged which seems a little limited. I have to disagree about Woodyatt and Bright though as I think the most powerful performances have been in the quieter moments - Woodyatt's body language in the episodes straight after Lucy's death was masterful in conveying his feelings and I've been praising him to high heavens for decades - certainly since the Cindy/Wicksy triangle. |
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#15 |
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Yes, this is the same for me. They don't have to weep and wail to bring me to tears or be one of life's jokers to make me laugh. A facial expression, body language, a line, a look can be far more effective.
Being 'still' is an acting tour De force in itself but a much less showy one than weeping and wailing and so it is often overlooked. |
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#16 |
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Yes, this is the same for me. They don't have to weep and wail to bring me to tears or be one of life's jokers to make me laugh. A facial expression, body language, a line, a look can be far more effective.
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#17 |
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Yes, and it is a skill that Linda Henry also has in droves. That woman can convey so much pain or mischief with her eyes without ever saying a word. Recent examples, her delight in needling Phil at Sharon's hen night and then reaction to Phil describing how sex with her made him feel before the shooting.
Being 'still' is an acting tour De force in itself but a much less showy one than weeping and wailing and so it is often overlooked. |
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#18 |
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Join Date: Aug 2009
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Quote:
It's a difficult one as I think portraying grief through crying is very difficult to do, so should be part of what makes a good actor. However, that is only one part of it. As mentioned with Maddy Hill, it's also a natural delivery of lines that's important. Someone like Michael French , who's a superb actor is David onscreen, as is Lindsey Coulson . I also think another good indicator is chemistry with other actors.
Quote:
Yes, and it is a skill that Linda Henry also has in droves. That woman can convey so much pain or mischief with her eyes without ever saying a word. Recent examples, her delight in needling Phil at Sharon's hen night and then reaction to Phil describing how sex with her made him feel before the shooting.
Being 'still' is an acting tour De force in itself but a much less showy one than weeping and wailing and so it is often overlooked. |
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#19 |
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David Neilson was sublime during the latter part of the Hayley s/l. Very subtle.
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#20 |
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Crying
Giving birth Being Drunk I think these are hard to do |
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#21 |
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I think conveying being drunk is a hard one. It's not about falling about, it's more the failed bravado of drunkenness that needs to be conveyed.
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#22 |
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I think conveying being drunk is a hard one. It's not about falling about, it's more the failed bravado of drunkenness that needs to be conveyed.
Chris Gascoyne is a very convincing drunk, as was Ted Shackleford as Gary Ewing. |
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#23 |
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Yes, Chris Gascoyne catches it perfectly. The subtlety of being drunk but trying to hide it comes across very well
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#24 |
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The mark of a good actor is an actor that can truthfully portray a character.
Crying isn't all that. I'm an actor and it's difficult for me to work myself up to that point, but others can turn it on - doesn't mean they're better, just lucky. Anyway, I'm much more affected if someone doesn't cry when they should, or are trying not to. |
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#25 |
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Some actors have a charisma that transcends their character. I'd say Sarah Lancashire is the best I've seen. Linda Henry is very good at crying scenes, she can really turn the tears on.
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