I would like to now tell you the parable of the actor who got the audition right. It’s a perfect illustration of the points in my last blog post. It was told to me as a true story, but I cannot speak to the veracity of its details. I can only say that it teaches a great lesson.
In 1987, the producers of a new show called Married With Children were seeking a lead actor. The role was a boorish father and husband who was at once offensive and lovable. The audition scene began with him entering the house and saying, “I’m home.”
Actors reading for the role were quick to see him as the Archie Bunker “type,” and they aimed for that as they tried to impress the producers and give them what they wanted. They would barge in and declare “I’m home!” in a sort of rough-around-the-edges, king-of-the-castle style. It seemed to be what the script called for, as every actor was making the same choices. But the producers were bored, again and again.
Then Ed O’Neill came in. After initial greetings, they started rolling and called “action.” Ed stepped in, but before saying a word, he took a deep breath and let out a quiet sigh that ended in a defeated slump. He then declared, with a hint of despair, “I’m home.”
In that moment, he had the role. This was something interesting. He wasn’t king of the castle; he was weary and held down. He could be brash and overbearing, but he could also be defeated and self-deprecating. This was not an imitation of a cliché of a character. This was an actor owning the role and making it something personal and new.
Why? Because O’Neill didn’t try to guess what they were looking for or try to fit that image. Instead, he drew on his experiences – the script reminded him of his Uncle Joe – and formed his own take on the role. He didn’t audition, he acted.
This is what the best actors do. Not because it will get them the job, but because it is what makes the job fun. Whether he had booked the role or not, this would still be a great story of an actor getting it right.
Now go and do likewise.
Actors reading for the role were quick to see him as the Archie Bunker “type,” and they aimed for that as they tried to impress the producers and give them what they wanted. They would barge in and declare “I’m home!” in a sort of rough-around-the-edges, king-of-the-castle style. It seemed to be what the script called for, as every actor was making the same choices. But the producers were bored, again and again.
Then Ed O’Neill came in. After initial greetings, they started rolling and called “action.” Ed stepped in, but before saying a word, he took a deep breath and let out a quiet sigh that ended in a defeated slump. He then declared, with a hint of despair, “I’m home.”
In that moment, he had the role. This was something interesting. He wasn’t king of the castle; he was weary and held down. He could be brash and overbearing, but he could also be defeated and self-deprecating. This was not an imitation of a cliché of a character. This was an actor owning the role and making it something personal and new.
Why? Because O’Neill didn’t try to guess what they were looking for or try to fit that image. Instead, he drew on his experiences – the script reminded him of his Uncle Joe – and formed his own take on the role. He didn’t audition, he acted.
This is what the best actors do. Not because it will get them the job, but because it is what makes the job fun. Whether he had booked the role or not, this would still be a great story of an actor getting it right.
Now go and do likewise.