How actors control emotions?

Question

You always see it on tv...actors/actresses who have the ability to bring up specific emotions and act it out. How do they do this? Also how long does it take to learn how to do this? I won't mind getting answers from other people but I would love to get a direct answer from an actor or actress.

Answer 1

I like Christophers initial thought. It is called ACTING for a very specific reason. What the actor is doing, even if in a fantasy sense, is portraying other levels, or areas, of someone elses reality.

  Obviously the writer, and director have designs on HOW that may happen with an actor, but to EMOTE on CUE or spontaneously, is the task and challenge of any actor.

  The "methods" are probably as varied, individually as the number of known emotions, as well as subtle nuances in body language and facial expression. A proficient actor can make one believe, for example,  that sadness may lead to tears, without actually ever shedding one.

   Certainly the challenge may be lessened on film, given so many "CUT, Act 3, Scene 3, Take 133, ACTION"

Just my 2 "SCENTS"

Answer 2

You learn this by the same method you use to get to Broadway - practice, baby, practice!

Answer 3

There are many 'methods', but it comes down to 'technique'.  You are an instrument that becomes finely tuned, summoning these things at will, when you want them.  On the nights that are inspired, you fly, are free, and forget technique.  Hard work is the answer.

Answer 4

it is their job!!

Answer 5

For me, it's not so much about controlling my emotions as using the ones that are already there to my advantage. I don't tell myself to cry or laugh, I become the character. What would I do if this really happened to me? It becomes about the anger or the sadness or the happiness that I feel naturally. I use the feelings to help myself become the character.

I hear a lot of actors boast that they can cry on demand, but it's not  a skill, because the people who make themselves cry aren't tapping into real emotion. You have to become the character, and that's what's most important, whether you are able to make the tears come or not.

This was a bit jumbled, but I hope it helped!

Answer 6

they dont control emotions, they free them. For myself, the best approach is based in Lecoq work. An image can bring you the state of being or passion that you want to layer on a character. Other people prefer a method approach. How long it takes is really different from person to person. How emotionally available, how sensitive, how capable of taking risk. It is not something we can learn from reading, we can only learn this by trying. AND you need a good teacher. A great teacher is worth the time and effort to look for vs settling for something nearby. A great teacher will help you mold yourself more quickly than an amateur. Find the actors you believe are the best, find out where they studied and with whom. Perhaps there is somebody in your area.

Answer 7

Read the Stanislavski books.