No matter how much we’ve trained, there are certain situations that will test our acting ability more than we initially realize. There are roles we will always find challenging, auditions we’ll find trickier than our friends do, some characters that just won’t come naturally to us.

What can you do when you’ve come up against a challenging situation like that? We’ve gathered advice from some of our very favorite actors & directors on what to do when you hit a road block and can’t find a way into a role!

What if the role requires an accent you feel self conscious doing?? —

We hear it over and over again in the studio. I bombed my audition because I couldn’t nail the accent. We’ve all been there. You might be a pro at a Cockney accent, but feel like a bad Steel Magnolias sketch when attempting a Southern drawl. Some accents take more time and practice for our particular ears and mouth to adjust to.

A great Speech coach can work wonders with you (and your confidence) before a big audition. Marking up the script with those specific sounds that will make your twang seem legit. But if you are pressed for time, and your IPA lessons are a distant memory, you’ll have to just jump into the character without over thinking it.

Try watching a movie on NetFlix with the same accent. When you hear a particularly delicious line, hit pause and practice saying it too. Sometimes a phrase is so fun to say, we can use it as a springboard into the accent. This can be a line from your movie viewing party, or maybe even one from your actual audition sides. There is often that one line that really resonates with us and the accent comes with ease when we say it. Use that to your advantage! Who knows why, but these magic connections with lines occur and can be an easy access road into the character or accent for us.

We used to do this kind of line and accent mimicking all the time as kids. We may even do it in improv class when we are playing freely and having fun. It’s just the seriousness of auditioning that causes us to lose the playfulness we once had. Don’t let it! Easier said than done, I know. But the more you get into your head about the accent, the less well you’ll perform at the audition.

Remember, an audition is just a peek into what you can bring to the role. It doesn’t have to be the most polished performance in order for you to book the job. What it does have to be is alive, present, and magnetic. If you get caught up in the accent and let that affect how bold the choices you make in the room are, THAT will cost you more than an imperfect vowel sound here or there.

Also, be prepared to do your sides with and without the accent. It’s common for the director to ask to see it both ways. Don’t let that trip you up. Be prepped to keep your intention and character choices both without and without the twang.

What if the role is just too close to home? —

On the rare, but powerful occasions our art aligns with our lives, it can be hard to decide if it’s a blessing or a curse. The empathy we feel should be our easy way in, can actually be the very thing that is keeping us distant from the character.

If a situation feels too real, too painful, it will paralyze and hold us back from investing fully in our imaginary circumstances. Every actor has seen this happen in a Method class. Another actor shuts down instead of breaking free when the wounds are too fresh to work from. When that happens, it is important to take a step back and breath. You must care for yourself first. Be kind to your inner artist in these moments and do whatever you need to do to remind them they are safe.

Often times the best thing to do for the audition is to acknowledge the similarities, and then move forward with an “As If” to help you through the scene. For example, if there is a scene in which you have to confront an uncaring parent, and unfortunately that rings TOO true to you that you feel boxed in by your own situation/fears/emotions, try substituting in another person in your life you wish you can confront. So a great sub, or As If, might be confronting your best friend’s boyfriend who doesn’t treat her the way you think she deserves. As long as you truly care about her and that situation, you should get as emotionally fueled up as you need be to play that scene out.

This technique of utilizing an As If is a powerful tool I learned while training at Atlantic Theater Company in New York. Founding member and teacher Karen Kohlhass guided my class through many As If exercises. And we wound up finding our way into characters from a huge variety of backgrounds, regions, and emotional places.

When we feel stuck, our hearts and imaginations will help us find a way in. It’s just our heads and self-consciousness that too often stand in the way. Don’t forget to read “Navigating Your Way Through An Acting Challenge, Part Two” for more insight and sharing!

Break legs!
Megan Manzi