5 Reasons Why Finding Your Own Acting Technique Matters

From the outside, acting must seem a simple thing. I mean, how many times have you been told, either by a peer or director, "Just get up there and do it"? Or let's not forget the other common phrase, "Use it. Put it into the scene," which you usually hear right after having an emotional reaction to something either in rehearsal or on set. But if acting were so easy, we'd all be able to "get up there and do it."

And some people really do have that talent. They can seamlessly slip into their character, hit the emotional calibre of the scene, and then as soon as the director calls "cut," they immediately slip back into whatever behind-the-scenes silliness took place just five minutes prior. Jennifer Lawrence is one these actors. I got to see her work while filming Hunger Games: Catching Fire, and I admired how she so effortlessly went from her actor to character and back again without even hinting at a process. Granted, Jennifer Lawrence spent most of her formative years playing Katniss, and I imagine that taking on the character's persona was akin to putting on a glove. After so many years of doing something consistently, the much easier and more seamless it becomes, right?

But this can't be true for all of her roles, can it? Surely even Jennifer Lawrence (or replace with the name of any actor you admire) doesn't just develop all of her roles on such whim.

We all know that there is one—a process, some technique that each one of us uses to find the underlying truth of the character, scene, etc. There is a trajectory that has to happen to connect the two dots of A) the real you and Z) the character on the page. Sometimes the distance isn't so far, and other times it feels like an impossible leap. Some roles, however exciting to us, may be perceived opposites of who we define ourselves to be. Uncovering the character's truest essence, the way that it lives in and through me, can be the most challenging bit.

My argument here is that sometimes the only technique that is correct is your own—the individual actor. You have to find what works for you. And that technique or process just might be a little Meisner, a little Adler, and maybe a lot more of something that is entirely unique to you.

I recently saw an interview with Margot Robbie where she was discussing her role for I, Tonya in which she plays Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding. She talked a lot about her process, which I found fascinating. Because not only is Tonya Harding a real person, but she was also involved in the film's production, which meant she was an accessible, infinite resource for Margot Robbie to study. But Miss Robbie didn't rely solely on the real Tonya. Instead, she chose to develop the character for herself and add on the layers of truth from her own discoveries.

Here's the video below:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHbHziXNxhh/?igsh=ZTZyNzVkN25wcjB3

There are a few things I love about this video. One, Margot talks about the various techniques that can work for an actor (there isn't just one!). Two, she talks specifically about movement and physicality—about how her animal work for the role of Tonya informed the way she wanted her to move (heavy feet, set jaw, haunches up). All of this work was no doubt explored to a maximum degree and then scaled all the way down ("only 5%") until what was necessary remained. Three, I love her candor. I love when actors share how they've developed a character—especially someone who is a known figure—from the page to the persona we see on stage or screen. It gives the rest of us a roadmap for our own research.

But because I love a good list, here are the 5 reasons I really think having your own acting technique matters:

1. An Expanded Skillset

There's no denying that the more techniques you explore, the more you'll have at your disposal. Like Margot Robbie says, "You can work with archetypes. You can work with color and light." Even the classic, revered methods are perfectly acceptable avenues to try (Meisner, Stanislavski, Adler, etc.) But the more you expand your options, the more tools you'll have when it comes to finding what works for you. Which brings us to:

2. Knowing What Does/Doesn't Work

There's no denying that the more you play around, the more you'll find what does and doesn't work for you. Sure, this may change from role to role, but generally you will have a better idea of what techniques suit your acting style, and when it works, it will make the building of a character more effective. Not only that, but the habits you've unconsciously peppered into your acting will be filtered out in the wash. That thing that one professor told you? You may find that after so many years it never served you to begin with. Eliminating what inhibits you makes more space for what activates you.

3. Better Sense of Self

I'm a firm believer that the more we tangibly work with characters who feel opposite to us, the more we discover about ourselves. In the same way that we learn which tools do and do not work for us, we also gain awareness on who we are as people. Romeo may not have any social boundaries, leaping into conversation or confrontation with anyone at any moment, but I do. How can I make these interactions between characters seem more authentic? Conversely, when diving into a character so far removed from who you are, how do you find your way back home? A vital part of having an effective technique is knowing how to separate yourself from the role.

4. Better Sense of Who You Are as a Performer

A better sense of self also means having a better sense of who you are as a performer. When you have the tools to help you get where you want to go, you'll have a better understanding of what roles you can take on. Not only does this help with your personal branding as an actor, but it gives you ownership over your own career. You can start pushing yourself towards projects that feel more exciting when you have the reassurance you can tackle them.

5. Career Longevity

Having your own acting technique isn’t just about landing the next role—it’s about sustaining a long-term career. When you know how to approach a role in a way that works for you, you’re less likely to burn out or feel lost when a method doesn’t yield results. A personalised process becomes a reliable foundation you can return to again and again, no matter the genre, scale, or emotional demand of the work. It keeps your passion alive, your performances consistent, and your growth ongoing.

At the end of the day, acting is a combination of skill and practice—and no two artists approach it in exactly the same way. Your process doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s to be valid or effective. In fact, it shouldn’t. The work you do to build your own technique—through trial, error, study, and experience—is what will ultimately give you confidence, flexibility, and staying power in an unpredictable industry. So stay curious. Stay open. And most of all, trust that the version of acting that works for you is not only enough—it’s powerful.