I used to think that having an acting coach meant you weren’t a good actor. After all, why would someone who knew what they were doing need someone to tell them how to do it. I have since realized that that is not in fact the case. In fact, there are many famous actors who have used acting coaches, including:
Nicole Kidman
Salma Hayek
Brad Pitt
Halle Berry
Josh Duhamel
Tiffany Haddish
Leonardo DiCaprio
Al Pacino
Cameron Diaz
So why is it useful to have an acting coach? The biggest reason, perspective. One of my favorite things about taking an acting class is seeing all the different ways people interpret a scene. That’s exactly what having an acting coach can be, another interpretation that you perhaps didn’t think of. Even the best actors could use some additional perspective.
While it is beneficial for seasoned actors, it’s even more helpful for actors that are just starting out. While I myself am not new to acting, I do find that I have a hard time seeing a scene in a different way once I’ve envisioned it. Because of that I welcome other views of a scene I’m performing.
It’s also nice to have another set of eyes on the facial expressions and actions we take as actors. Often we may have an idea in our head, but it may not come across the way we intend. Or it doesn’t work for that particular scene. These things are sometimes hard to self correct. It is much easier to have someone see it in the moment and correct right away than to practice it multiple times and realize it later, or to try and perform it in front of a mirror since it can be hard to focus on performance in a mirror sometimes.
Lastly, having someone who knows the industry really well can be super beneficial when trying to go for a role within that specific sector of the industry. Or someone who knows a specific director and what that director would be looking for when casting. Overall, having an acting coach can be super beneficial and can really help you land the role in that next audition.
