Body language is one of the most powerful tools in an actor’s arsenal. It transcends dialogue, adding depth, nuance, and authenticity to performances. While dialogue conveys exposition, emotion and subtext, the movement of the body reveals an underlying language of conflicts that words cannot express. Skilled actors understand that physical presence is as compelling as voice, if not more so. A derivative of body language is creating your character’s “behavior,” all of which is discussed here.
Communicating Beyond Words – The Actor’s Warm-Up
Physical control is part of every role. Sometimes control is to actually let go and be loose in your body. This can seem like a contradiction: “let go to have control.” But the more you practice and work, the more clear it becomes that an actor’s body and temperament must be completely relaxed in order to perform well. Having physical control of a character first requires that you are in tune with yourself; that you are relaxed and connected with your senses. This deep level of focus is achieved through extensive warm-ups coupled with breathing exercises.
The actor’s warm-up is a strange mix of many different physical approaches that lead to a healthy, open body as well as a calm and connected spirit. The actor’s warm-up varies from school to school. At the end of the day, each actor does whatever exercises work for them.
Watch Robert DeNiro in Awakenings, Daniel Day Lewis in My Left Foot, Sandra Hüller in The Zone of Interest. The physicality of these performances range from extreme to nearly unseen. By mixing imitation and physical exploration, the actor discovers new ways of moving.
Micro-expressions and eye movement can reveal an endless array of humanity. Study Tom Hardy in the Revenant, examine when he moves his eyes and on what word – and where is the camera when he does it? Marvel at how a simple glance enhances not just the framing of the shot, but the story itself.
Cultural and Contextual Awareness
Having an understanding of where your character comes from plays into the way they move. A character from Victorian England is going to move much differently than a character vacationing in modern Miami. Actors must research these nuances when preparing for roles to ensure authenticity while, at the same time, avoiding stereotypes. Learning the difference between the two is very much a reflection of one’s artistry.
Unavoidable variables, including when the story takes place and for how many years, undoubtedly plays into physical behavior. Does the character you play get older from scene to scene? How will you convince the audience that the aging process is happening before their eyes? Does the character have an ailment, a limp, etc. If you believe an actor just arrives on a set and, through magical talent, suddenly behaves like a completely different person for the very first time, you are mistaken. Actor’s prepare weeks and months in advance not just on dialogue, but on movement, behavior, character and voice.
Conveying Emotion Without Overacting
For actors first starting out, learning to push the boundaries of their own physicality is essential. New actors have to get a sense of what it’s like to explore extremely – to dance in ways that make them uncomfortable – to move in ways they would not otherwise do. Starting big and exaggeratedly is highly recommended not just for movement, but for voice as well. Like a toddler banging away at a piano for the first time, new actors should not concern themselves with being good or bad. They should just get used to how the instrument works. Over time, as one becomes a more advanced performer, subtlety (in general), becomes the goal.
Gestures, behaviors, and breathing patterns, all play into how an actor develops the movements and motions of each character they play. By approaching body language with vigorous creativity, seasoned actors can elevate their performances from effective to extraordinary.
Inner conflict always exists beneath the surface. Characters may appear composed externally while struggling with turmoil inside. These colliding inner conflicts, the friction between two or more opposing thoughts and or feelings, can spark behaviors in the actor’s rehearsal or performance. What does behavior mean exactly?
Behavior
Behavior should be different for every character you play. It’s a known fact that Al Pacino purposely puts on and removes a jacket differently for every character he films. There are articles and publications that focus solely on how Meryl Streep puts her glasses on for each character she plays. She makes a point of making sure that all of her characters use their eyeglasses differently. Ralph Feinnes does tremendous and subtle behaviors for each role. His behavior in Grand Budapest Hotel is so much different than his behavior in 28 Years Later. Once you start noticing behaviors in actors, you begin to see one aspect of what the actor’s work really is, and how even the most minute body movement is by creative design.
Gesture Economy
Shakespeare tells all actors, “do not saw the air with your hands… but use all gently.” What he means is for actors to stop flailing their hands and wagging their finger. In acting, every movement matters. Gesture economy is the art of using minimal and deliberate physical actions to convey maximum emotional depth or narrative meaning.
“less is more.” The old adage is so often true. For experienced actors, mastering this concept can elevate performances by removing unnecessary distractions and honing in on the most resonant physical choices. Although it is true on the stage, this is even more prevalent in film. Instead of relying on broad. excessive gestures, actors learn to communicate through refined, intentional movements that align with their character. This approach ensures that every gesture has weight and significance, creating a more impactful performance.
Strategies
Before making a physical choice, ask yourself basic questions: “How does my character move? Why does my character move?” Ensure each gesture arises from emotional truth and organic impulse. Study people in various situations: athletes during a critical moment, baristas when the coffee shop is crowded (or empty), an old woman feeding bread to pigeons — Notice the details of how and when they move. Practice scaling down your gestures during rehearsals to identify which movements feel essential versus superfluous. Work with trusted collaborators who can help you refine physical choices and eliminate inefficiencies in your movement. Partner up and act out an intense silent scene where you’re restricted to small gestures. Record a monologue twice: once using natural instincts and once consciously reducing your movements by 50%. Compare which feels more compelling.
Creative exercises and physical experimentation are key to solid acting. Do as many things as you can to achieve the performance you desire. Acting is like sculpting. You have to start with a big, jagged boulder that, little by little, you chip away at until you reveal the shape of the character. Going big in movement (and voice) is the best place to start, and you can slowly adjust until those massive gestures and experiments become smaller. Whether it’s a dramatic pause or an entire scene devoid of dialogue, body language is a primary vehicle for storytelling. For all actors, mastering the art of silent communication can elevate performances with subtlety and emotional nuance.
