Actors play characters in live stage performances as well as films, television shows, and advertisements. To accomplish a certain performance goal, they usually follow the directions of directors and producers. Actors can work in theatres, television and film studios, and amusement parks, among other places. The following are 10 Actor Interview Questions with samples answers.
Actor Interview Questions
- Can you tell me what inspired you to pursue acting as a career?
This is a basic beginning question that the interviewer will ask to learn more about your background, gather information for follow-up inquiries, and start the conversation. The question asks you to provide a short story about the circumstances in your life that prompted you to pursue a career as an actor.
Sample answer: “One of my childhood pals was a member of the neighborhood children’s theatrical company. I was invited to one of the rehearsals. The process of developing a theatre performance piqued my interest, so I joined the company the following season. I kept acting in school and neighborhood theatres until I began college. I majored in theatre and began acting in professional plays shortly after graduation. I continued to love acting in theatre, television, and a few short films. I enjoy my job and couldn’t picture doing anything else.
- Which acting styles do you think you’re most fitted to?
The interviewer is trying to figure out what kinds of parts you enjoy and what kinds of performing chances you prefer by asking this question. The easiest approach to respond is to say that you enjoy the types of roles and acting mediums that the company is looking for. People are successful in pursuits that they enjoy. If you’re a theatrical actor who isn’t interested in television, you should keep auditioning for theatre parts and ignore television chances.
Sample answer: “I feel I’m most fitted for parts in theatrical plays that allow me to improvise and give the character my personality. I love to portray major parts in which I am either the main lead or villain of the tale. I also love parts in which I am paired with another strong character whose journey is intertwined with mine.”
- Who do you regard to be your acting role model, and why do you want to mimic their career?
By naming a role model, you’re giving the interviewer a lot of information about yourself, your preferred acting style, and your personality, all of which have been mirrored in the roles you play. Your response should be pertinent to the job for which you are being interviewed. You might choose a role model that has worked on comparable projects, portrayed similar roles, or has a similar structure to your own.
Sample answer: “My acting idol is Keanu Reeves. I’ve always appreciated his ability to own a part and depict the characters in the plays he’s in with accuracy. I conducted a lot of research on him and found out that he spends a lot of time on character development, rehearsals, acting practice, and improvements in the quality of the projects he works on. I appreciate his professionalism and hard ethic as an actor, both of which I aim to follow.”
- What measures do you take to properly comprehend your character’s significance in the plot?
To be a good actor, you need to know all there is to know about the character you’re playing. This covers the character’s motive, preferences, and personal style. You should also pay attention to how they connect with the rest of the cast. Your response should include how you go about accomplishing this as well as the techniques you employ to get into character.
Sample answer: “I need to know everything I can about the character I’m playing as an actor. I read the screenplay thoroughly to learn about the character’s past, motivations, relationships with other characters in the plot, and other details that would help me better grasp who they are and how I should represent them. I’ve also had extensive conversations with the director, writers, and other actors about this. Even if I’m not on set or in production, I take time to represent the role after I’ve completely grasped the character. I’ll take on the qualities of the character for days at a time.”
- What do you do if you get a poor review for a performance?
Acting is one of the few professions that gives participants immediate feedback. It may be the director, producer, other actors, or reviewers. Regrettably, not all of the evaluations are favorable. Turning a negative into a positive is the key to answering this question correctly. You ought to be able to explain how you would utilize a bad evaluation to help you develop your acting skills.
Sample answer: “The first thing I do when I receive a poor evaluation regarding my performance is either listen to the critic or read the review multiple times. If I get the chance, I will ask the reviewer to understand more about the reason for their evaluation, what I did wrong, what they enjoyed, and where they think I might improve. I don’t allow bad feedback to get to me. I analyze my acting techniques and pinpoint places where I may improve using the information from the review.”
- Where do you go to conduct vocal exercises that require a lot of volume?
Another operational issue with a subtextual significance is this one. The interviewer is curious about your practice methods. They do, however, want to make sure that you rehearse and are aware of the tactics used by actors. Your response should demonstrate that you practice however, they do regularly and are familiar with the many approaches actors use to hone their skills.
Sample answer: “I think it important to develop my talents daily as an actor. Facial expressions, movement, emoting, and voice exercises are among the techniques I use in my work. I prefer to do loud vocal exercises in a quiet place where I may utilize my loudest voice. It helps me get a sense of how I sound or what kind of effect I’m having if I’m in a setting that mirrors my voice.”
- How do you practice a scene when the other actors with whom you need to engage are unavailable?
This is a question regarding the management of things. Operational inquiries are designed to learn how you go about accomplishing a task or performing a job in your field. The best way to respond to operational inquiries is to be straightforward and concise.
Sample answer: “There are numerous ways I utilize to practice and rehearse a scene when the other actors I perform against aren’t accessible. I occasionally enlist the help of my friends and family to read the lines of the other performers. Another useful technique is to record me doing the roles of the other actors and then rehearse with the tape. I read my lines and rehearse my looks and reactions as though the other performers were giving their lines.”
- Talent or training, in your opinion, is more essential for a performer.
Your interviewer wants to know about your acting philosophy. While skill is important in every career, those who succeed work extremely hard. This is especially true in the acting business. You must be able to explain how training has helped you improve as an actor and how much effort and time you put into it.
Sample answer: “While talent is vital, it is training and hard effort that distinguishes a great actor from the many others who attempt but fail in this field. Training, practice, and hard effort make you better no matter how talented you are. There is no such thing as a one-hit-wonder. If you look at any well-known actor’s career, you’ll see that they spend so much time in lesser roles before landing their big break. It was thanks to their hard work and perseverance, not luck, that they were allowed to become stars.”
- How do you keep plot twists and other changes in television shows under wraps until they air?
As being an actor in a TV series or any serialized production with plot twists and turns, maintaining anonymity is essential. You wouldn’t want to give anything away about the narrative or give the audience any spoilers about the ending. Actors must have a strong moral compass and the capacity to keep the projects that are all in secret.
Sample answer: “I usually fight the temptation to talk about the shows I’m in with my friends and family, even if it’s tempting at times. I appreciate the need of maintaining secrecy in our profession, especially if I’m working on a serialized production with numerous narrative twists or a surprise finale. Even when my friends or industry journalists press me to do so, I resist the urge. My objective is to keep the show’s credibility for the audience.”
- Which of all the roles you’ve done thus far is your favorite?
This is an excellent chance for you to share your expertise! You don’t have to pick a character who is particularly difficult or complex. Perhaps you added dimension to a character who was previously flat. Discuss how you created them enjoyable to watch. Perhaps you were drawn to the role because of your enthusiasm for the entire production. Tell us what you learned as a result of that encounter.
Sample answer: “I’m new to acting and will never forget my first role, which was in a local production of ‘Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley,’ in which I portrayed Mrs. Darcy. The script was hard owing to the flowery language and extensive monologues.”
All the best!