Types of Acting

In this article, we’ll  take a look at some popular forms of acting and the purposes they serve. Let’s dive in!

Method Acting: Emotional Immersion
This style of acting focuses on conjuring specific emotions and personal experiences to completely immerse oneself in a role. To put it another way, the actor tries to “become” the character.

Method actors often stay in character at all times, even during breaks, which sometimes causes friction with other cast members. However, this approach can enhance emotional authenticity tremendously.

Some good examples of this are:

• Daniel Day Lewis in Lincoln and My Left Foot
• Christian Bale in The Machinist
• Natalie Portman in Black Swan

Meisner Technique
This method emphasizes living truthfully under imaginary circumstances, shifting focus from self-consciousness to genuine connection with scene partners. This is in contrast to method acting, which is inwardly focused, drawing experiences and emotions out of the self; Meisner technique is outwardly focused, letting go of the self to fully immerse in the situation and interactions with other actors/characters.

This technique can be useful to keep actors present and allow them to be spontaneous rather than intellectualizing every move they make.

A few examples of actors who use this method are:

• Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side
• Diane Keaton in Something’s Gotta Give
• Jeff Goldblum in The Fly

Classical Acting: Shakespearean
Shakespearean acting focuses on vocal control, physical precisions, and the ability to interpret highly poetic language. This is typically seen when performing Shakespearean plays and specializes in iambic pentameter, all while delivering complex storylines with emotional depth.

A few examples of actors that have performed this style of acting are:

• Ian McKellen in Macbeth
• Judi Dench in various film adaptations of Hamlet
• Patrick Stewart in Hamlet
• Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth

Stanislavski System: Psychological Realism
This is a more structured approach to acting, but it also embodies emotional authenticity. In many ways, it is similar to method acting; both styles are really trying to “live the role,” rather than just acting it.

However, this differs from American method acting by also prioritizing the scripts. This means you are trying to emotionally connect with the character, but there is more of a balance between your own personal emotions and the role of the characters.

Some examples of this are:

• Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady
• Tom Hanks in Cast Away
• Denzel Washington in Fences as Well

Practical Aesthetics
This is an action-based acting technique focused on script analysis and physical action, rather than emotional recall. In comparison to other methods, it simplifies the process by focusing on what exactly the character is doing.

Some examples of this would be:

• William H. Macy in Fargo
• Jessica Alba in Fantastic Four
• Kristen Bell in Veronica Mars

Improvisational Acting
For our last acting style, we have one you’ve likely heard before: improvisational acting, also known as improv. Completely unscripted and unplanned, improv creates characters, dialogue, and plot in the moment. This approach allows performers to react in real-time, giving viewers a unique experience that’s never performed the same way twice.

Some performers who are known for using this style are:

• Tina Fey in Mean Girls
• Steve Carrell in Anchorman
• Melissa McCarthy in Bridemaids