Thranduil

Before and during my Time of Acting and Studying, Working on myself, learning Techniques and Excercises and rehearsing Roles i always thought, that Talent is the most Important Thing, morevoer the absolutely Cornerstone for Being a good Actor. But that, i realized later on, is not true.

The Cornerstone is Fire in your Heart, Love, Passion and, resulting out of those 2 Points, Diligence and hard work.

If you really fall in love with something, Talent may be useful or at least make some things easier for you, but the cornerstones and the really important things like hard work and constant training stay the same.

Apart from the Fact, that there are many Faces of Talent, like being able to sell yourself for instance, the really Important Thing is "Love". That's the Trick and Keypoint, you can't learn - It burns within you or it does not. Real Love and Passion for Acting makes it alot easier for you, to manage all the boring and exertive things really important to become a good Actor. A less Talented but Passionate Actor, whos Heartbeat knocks every Minute for Acting will always be better than someone who may be more talented but lazy to learn his lines and just waiting around to get discovered. And even if such a Talented One gets Discovered, his laziness will make him someone hard to work with - execpt he is a genius, but real geniuses are one in two millions or less.

Everyone, who doesn't feel true Love and Fire burning within his Heart but just dreaming of being famous and rich, should not start Acting. This Kind of Actors rarely improve because they are not willed to work hard and in the End thats cheating Audience on its Money.

Edder

Very insightful article, Thranduil!

Annajane

I agree