Finding your Actor Type
When an actor steps into an audition room, it’s because they’re right for that role.
So, let’s backtrack a little: how did that actor get selected to audition in the first place? Well, for starters, they submitted for the role they knew they could play.
That’s where an actor’s type comes in.
What IS an Actor’s Type?
An actor’s type refers to the category of character an actor can play. These categories are largely influenced by age range and archetype (a very specific type of person).
Example Types
Let’s take a common example: The Breakfast Club (1985), directed by John Hughes. In this classic rom-com, these “actor” and character types are directly integrated in the dialogue of the script, with the famous 1985 quote that reads:
“You see us as you want to see us… In the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain, and an athlete, and a basket case, a princess, and a criminal… Does that answer your question? Sincerely yours, the Breakfast Club.”
This quote explicitly details five common types of characters found in film, tv and theater, including the “brain” or the geek, the “athlete” or the school jock, the “basket case” or the oddball, the “princess” or the popular girl and the “criminal,” typically referred to as the troublemaker or an antagonist of some sort.
Like these, there are a plethora of other “types.” They might include:
The “Executive or Aggressive Professional” (think: Sandra Bullock in The Proposal or Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada)
The “Addict or Troubled Youth” (think: Zendaya in Euphoria, Timothée Chalamet in Beautiful Boy or Angelina Jolie in Girl Interrupted)
The “Girl Next Door” (think: Lindsey Lohan in Mean Girls, Kate Winslet in Titanic or Jennifer Anniston in Friends)
The “Go-Getter” (think: Anne Hathaway in The Devil Wears Prada or Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde)
The “Naïve or Inexperienced Hero” (think: Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate, Wil Wheaton in Stand by Me and Tom Guiry in The Sandlot)
How to Find Your Type
Besides Age Range and Archetype, there are other factors that contribute to an actor’s type, including:
Gender
Physical appearance (body build, height, eye/hair color, etc.)
And additional personality traits (shy/popular, lovable/mean, etc.) These traits should hint at your prototype or the type of character you can realistically play. Hint: think about your favorite movies or tv shows and how you would categorize their given characters (is there a “mean girl?” How about a “supportive teacher” or a “loner?”) These are all examples of actor and character types. If you find similarities between a “type of character” and how you might present yourself in real life, this could help point you to yours.
Finding your actor type is easy. You’ll want to consider a few things that’ll help narrow down yours:
1. Take a selfie and asses your physical appearance
Be honest with yourself: how old do you think you look? Try to assess how you physically look as opposed to how old you think you feel. This is the entertainment industry we’re talking about. You’re here to sell a product: and that product is YOU! Take some selfies and assess your recent camera roll: does the way you dress point to a certain age range? How would you describe your style? Maybe you enjoy wearing crop tops and showing your mid-drift or perhaps you enjoy sweaters and blazers, something that could hint at the wardrobe of two very different types of people.
2. Evaluate your resume and acting credits
Take a look at your acting resume and ask yourself this: what types of roles do you generally book? Are they younger? Older? Somewhere in between? More specifically, what kind of characters do you typically get hired to portray? (i.e., the “friend,” the “protagonist,” the “antagonist,” the “high school teen,” the “first responder,” the “lawyer,” etc.). Evaluate your resume and acting credits – I’m sure you’ll find some patterns along the way!
3. Take advantage of your college resources
If you’re in college, consider taking advantage of everything that your program has to offer. This might include classes, workshops or any other additional resources at your disposal. During my own college experience, I took part in a semester long independent study at the Circle in the Square School in Manhattan, NY. For an entire semester, my class and I traveled into the city once a week and took four different classes at this prestigious and reputable Broadway Theater. It was in one of those classes that our professor talked to us about actor types and told us what she thought each one of ours were. It was incredibly helpful! Now, your college might not offer this specific independent study, with these specific acting teachers but they will offer a class or experience that’s unique to that program. Whatever it is, take advantage of it. Talk to an advisor, converse with your acting professors, ask your theater (and non-theater) friends for feedback on your look, heck… explore other classes – you might discover something new about yourself that will lead you to your own actor type along the way!
4. Consider acting seminars, classes or workshops with a Talent Agent or Manager
When I first started out, I’d take part in many agent seminars. Agent seminars are networking events for actors and creative professionals. They’re typically held at acting studios and include a featured agent or talent manager who offers industry insight, information about the agency they work for, along with a final Q&A. Afterwards, actors have the opportunity to perform a short piece for them (usually a monologue or short scene) with personalized feedback. This is a GREAT opportunity to ask them directly what they think your actor type is. Agents and talent managers specialize in scouting and submitting actors to acting projects they are RIGHT for. They know first hand what an actor type is and are great resources to help point you in the right direction.
5. Look to your Headshot Photographer for Advice
A headshot photographer specializes in taking professional photos of an actor. They know what looks good and what suits them best. Often times, headshot photographers will ask you what type of character you want to emulate in your photos. A while back, I remember a headshot photographer of mine asked me what celebrity I look like. At the time, I said Selena Gomez because many people have repeatedly mentioned this to me before. He said something to me that was very helpful. Something along the lines of “well if a Casting Director is looking for a Selena Gomez but she’s not available, they’ll want someone similar… and that could be you!” In retrospect, this is not necessarily true (for many business and logistical reasons) but I appreciated the sentiment and deeply valued the meaning behind it. It really helped narrow down my own type and brought a sense of specificity during that photoshoot.
Why are Actor Types Important?
An actor type will narrow down the kind of characters you can play. In the long run, this will only benefit you, especially as you navigate auditions and job submissions. Applying to the RIGHT type of roles will get you a better chance at being selected for an audition (and possibly booking the job).
It’s like applying to any other type of job. If you find yourself applying to be a Neurosurgeon on Indeed without having ever gone to medical school, odds are, you won’t be getting an interview any time soon.
Putting it into Perspective
Let’s say you’re very petite, have a young-looking face and generally give off the appearance of a high school teenager (yes – I’m using myself as an example). My chances of playing an NFL Basketball Player or a Firefighter are slim to none. When we think of Firefighters (or Basketball players, for that matter), we might think of someone who appears taller, a bit older and a lot stockier. Are there exceptions to this rule? Absolutely. But unfortunately, this is the entertainment industry, and what we see on film or television tends to be a heightened version of reality and a largely stereotypical representation of human nature (including appearances).
Embracing our Type-Casts
So. Next time you get selected to audition for yet ANOTHER police officer, or another CEO, or another high school bully, celebrate those auditions and EMBRACE your type-casts because if anything, they are a strong indicator that you’re doing something RIGHT!
Our types might limit us. They might remind us of the types of roles we can’t play but their specificity allows us to understand and EXCEL at the ones we can!
Part of being an actor is understanding how the industry operates. Once you do – you’ll be one step ahead of the game and miles ahead of your competition!
