How Do Actors Stand Out?

There are few things worse for self-esteem than being shuffled in and out as part of the crowd at an audition.

It can make you feel as though you’re in for an uphill struggle, having to fight simply to be seen.

By giving in to this attitude you can actually stop yourself from standing out.

Never go into an audition feeling defeated, because that’s the attitude you’ll project.

Remember, the one thing none of those other actors are is you. And it’s your unique youness that will land you the part.

How do actors stand out?

Standing out as an actor is about energy and ease. You shine by being confident in yourself and your choices.

Enter the room with confidence, to create an immediate impression that you know what you’re doing. 

It may sound cliché, but believing in yourself makes others believe in you. To create convincing performances you first need to convince yourself.

If you want to succeed in acting you have to be passionate about it. Acting is a career of ups and downs, and that’s true all the way to the top level.

Without passion, a career in acting will never get off the ground. Tap into the passion, and let it shine through. This will in turn bolster your confidence.

Having passion will lead you to explore new techniques and methods, as you’ll always be working towards being better. Without this enthusiasm you’re unlikely to stand out.

In acting you spend a lot of time being other people, but you also need to be confident in who you are.

It’s you that enters the audition space, you that interacts with the casting director, and you that gives the first and final impressions. 

All those aspects that make you special should shine. A great actor intrigues, and that continues past the character. 

The more confidence and passion you have, the better acting choices you can make. You won’t feel as though you have to be ordinary or obvious. Instead, you can create characters who are different and exciting.

You become a person a casting director is interested in. That’s what makes you stand out against everyone else.

How do you stand out in an acting audition?

To stand out at an acting audition you need to be confident, and project that confidence.

Don’t look for validation once you’ve finished by asking ‘was that okay?’ Show that you knew it was okay by simply saying thank you. Enter and leave the room confidently, don’t just shuffle in and out.

With that confidence you’re able to find different character choices. A casting director may see hundreds of people in one day.

Many of them will be doing the exact same thing. You want to show you can do something different to everyone else. Much of this comes from preparation.

Research the character, the history, the background of the role, beforehand.

These choices may not change how the character ends up, but it does make you memorable in the casting directors eyes.

On that note, be kind and respectful, but treat the casting directors as humans. When you see them as ‘above’ you, you lose that confidence you spent so long fostering.

Treat casting directors as colleagues, and try to build a genuine connection.

Don’t waste time on chit-chat if they seem rushed, but be comfortable engaging in conversation. Ask questions, where appropriate.

This may seem contradictory, but be open to direction and take notes. Yes, you need to be confident but not cocky.

Respond by showing you can listen, and don’t take direction as a personal insult. Every actor receives direction.

If they don’t, that’s a bad director rather than a perfect actor. Learning from direction shows that you can listen and be part of a team.

Perhaps the most obvious of advice: be professional, be prepared, and be on time. You need to sell yourself not only for the role, but as you the person. 

How do you stand out in a headshot?

To stand out in a headshot you need to keep the focus on you. This means no distracting backgrounds or clothing.

You should be the sole focus of the image. Be expressive. Use your eyes and eyebrows to show emotion, and create a connection with the camera.

The facial expression is more important than an unusual pose. 

Experiment with angles and negative space. Many headshots are taken straight on, so by playing with the frame you can draw attention.

Make sure the image is sharp and in focus. Print the photo at a high quality. Don’t try and stand out by using a gimmick.

The thing that should sell the picture is you – and you should be the sole focus. Try to show real authenticity, rather than dazzling with glamour.