Creating a compelling, believable character is at the heart of powerful acting. Whether you are preparing for a theatre role, a film project, or a voice-over performance, understanding how to develop a character is what transforms a good actor into a great one. This guide explores in detail how to build a rich, dynamic character that captivates an audience.
1. Read the Entire Script (Multiple Times)
Before you can breathe life into a character, you must fully understand the world they inhabit. Start by reading the entire script, not just your character’s lines. On the first pass, read for general comprehension—what’s happening in the story? Who are the key players? What’s the structure and tone?
Then read the script again and again, each time with a different focus:
Plot and Structure: What is the arc of the story? How does your character fit into that arc?
Character Relationships: How does your character relate to others? Look for clues in their dialogue, how others speak about them, and how they respond to situations.
Thematic Context: What is the central message or theme of the piece? How does your character contribute to that theme?
Keep a notebook of observations. Annotate the script with your character’s emotional beats, questions, contradictions, and important events.
2. Analyze the Given Circumstances
The term “given circumstances” refers to all the information the playwright gives you about the world of the play and your character’s situation. This includes:
Setting: Time, place, socio-economic context, and historical background
Relationships: Family, friends, adversaries, and social circles
Events: Key events that influence your character—both onstage and offstage
Ask questions like:
Where is this scene taking place, and how does that influence my behavior?
What just happened before this moment?
How does the time period affect my values, beliefs, and limitations?
Stanislavski emphasized that these details are not just context—they are fuel for your performance.
3. Define Objectives and Super-Objectives
Characters are driven by wants. In each moment, they are pursuing something. That drive is known as their objective. Zoom out, and every character also has a super-objective, the overarching need that fuels their journey across the entire script.
Scene Objective: What does my character want in this specific scene?
Tactic: How are they trying to get it? (e.g., to charm, to seduce, to threaten, to beg)
Obstacle: What or who is standing in their way?
Super-Objective: What does this character want in life? What is their deepest need?
Once you identify your objective, you can play the action truthfully, with purpose and focus.
4. Break the Script into Beats and Actions
A beat is a unit of action—a moment when a shift happens, emotionally or tactically.
As you analyze each scene:
Divide the script into beats. Each time there’s a shift in intention, mood, or tactic, mark it.
Label each beat with a transitive verb: to comfort, to provoke, to tease, to manipulate, to disarm.
Think of your performance in terms of doing, not just feeling. The action drives the emotion.
This technique ensures you stay active in your choices and react moment to moment.
5. Develop the Backstory
Characters do not exist in a vacuum. Every person has a history that influences their present behavior. Even if the playwright doesn’t provide it, you can build one:
Where were they born? What was their childhood like?
What are the pivotal moments in their life?
Who are their parents, mentors, role models, enemies?
What are their core beliefs and values?
You can write journal entries as your character, or conduct interviews in character. This helps you internalize their voice, habits, and point of view.
6. Understand the Arc and Transformations
How does your character change throughout the story?
Do they gain or lose something (love, power, belief)?
Do they become wiser, more cynical, more hopeful?
Is the change external (career, location) or internal (mindset, identity)?
Understanding your arc allows you to map out emotional shifts and highlight key turning points in your performance.
7. Explore Physicality and Gesture
Physical choices help create believable, distinct characters. Consider:
Posture: Are they confident, slouched, uptight?
Walk: Fast, slow, limping, elegant?
Gestures: Do they talk with their hands? Have nervous tics?
Personal Space: Are they intimate or distant?
Try moving across a room in character. How does it feel different from your normal walk? Use mirrors or video to observe your changes.
8. Find the Voice and Vocal Qualities
Just like physicality, vocal choices define a character:
Pitch: High or low?
Tempo: Quick, slow, hesitant?
Rhythm: Smooth, choppy, singsong?
Accent: Regional or foreign?
Avoid caricature. Let the voice emerge from the character’s needs and psychology. Practice your lines out loud in different styles and make note of what feels authentic.
9. Establish Inner Monologue and Subtext
Actors must always think as the character, not just recite lines. This means developing:
Inner Monologue: What is the character thinking right now?
Subtext: What are they really saying beneath the lines?
Subtext adds complexity. “I’m fine” can mean “Leave me alone,” “I’m heartbroken,” or “I don’t want to talk.”
Practice scenes by saying the subtext out loud to yourself, then play the real line with that feeling in mind.
10. Connect Emotionally and Personally
Emotional truth is key. There are different methods:
Emotional Recall: Use personal memories to access similar feelings.
Imaginative Substitution: Imagine a scenario that would cause that emotion.
Objective-Based Work: Let the character’s need fuel your emotional state.
You don’t need to relive trauma—your imagination is powerful enough to generate real responses. Stay present.
11. Rehearse, Reflect, Refine
Rehearsal is where character development solidifies. Tips:
Record yourself and watch for authenticity.
Ask your director and peers for feedback.
Adjust physical and vocal choices based on the ensemble.
Rehearsals aren’t about repetition—they’re about discovery.
12. Costumes, Props, and Environment
The external tools—costumes, props, and sets—help you lock in your character. Use them to your advantage:
Get into costume early in rehearsal to explore how it changes your behavior.
Practice with key props (a cane, a purse, a phone) to make interactions fluid.
Use set pieces to anchor your character in the physical world.
13. Perform with Presence
When performance time comes:
Trust the work you’ve done.
Stay in the moment.
React truthfully to your scene partners.
A well-developed character doesn’t feel like acting—it feels like living. Keep your performance fresh each night by responding honestly to the stimuli around you.
14. After the Show: Let Go
Actors often form deep bonds with their characters. Once the show ends:
Reflect on what you learned.
Acknowledge the growth.
Let the character go.
This emotional detachment is part of being a healthy, professional actor. Each character is a chapter in your journey—not your whole story.
Final Thoughts
Character development is not about mimicry—it’s about empathy. It’s about walking in someone else’s shoes so convincingly that the audience forgets they’re watching a performance. With preparation, curiosity, and courage, you can build characters that are unforgettable.
So dig deep. Ask questions. Take risks. And most of all—listen. That’s where the character truly lives.
