More Compelling than You Believe

When discussing his approach to performing on stage, I once heard William H. Macy say, "If you don't know what to do, don't do anything." 

During an acting on-camera workshop with one of the most reputable teachers in the city, actors were asked to perform a scene in which a character was doing nothing more than delivering a pizza.

Actor after actor held the box in almost comically unconventional ways. Finally, he stopped and asked, "Guys! How do you normally hold a box of pizza?!" 

As actors we often feel the need to seem "interesting," or to do stuff that makes us more compelling.

The masters like Michael Caine and Peter O'Toole were riveting to watch on film because they trusted the life they brought to a role would enrich their performance. If you watch them closely they often seem to be doing very little at all; revealing so much with just their eyes, or a gesture. They never felt the need to do too much.

You too are far more compelling than you think. Trust what you bring.