Types of Acting Techniques: The Ultimate Guide 2023

1/7/2023

In this guide, we'll discuss the most common types of acting techniques and how they can help further your career as an actor.

We'll cover Classical, Chekhov, Method, Meisner, and a few others so you not only understand the difference, but also know which to focus on (depending on whether you're going into screen acting, stage acting, etc.).

Related: How to Practice Acting at Home (for free)

Types of Acting

There are plenty of actors with little to no formalized training, but the techniques covered in this article can help you sharpen your blade so you not only perform better in auditions, but also appear more impressive to casting directors via your theater resume (because they take formalized training seriously).

The proper training will lead to more bookings and confidence on set, so without further ado let's jump right in!

Classical Acting

Based on Shakespearean acting techniques, the Classical Acting Method became formalized and popularized by Konstantin Stanislavski and Michel Saint-Denis in the late 1800's. It's a broad approach that requires actors to carefully analyze the script to explore the character in depth, finding personal connections to the character and using those connections to give an engaging performance.

Classical Acting was originally developed before the advent of film, meaning it emphasizes overly dramatic gestures, exaggerated actions, and slower, drawn-out speech so everyone in the theater (including those all the way at the back) could hear and see. It typically sticks to the words and actions exactly as they're written in the script, meaning little to no ad-libbing or improvisation is taught.

Many modern day acting coaches consider Classical Acting to be a bit "over the top," which is why it's almost never taught for screen acting. It is used primarily as an introductory training method to help new actors discover themselves, their movement, and their bodies as they learn the basics of acting for stage.

Some famous Classically Trained actors include Alan Bates, Bette Davis, William Shatner, and Patrick Stewart.

Stanislavski's System (AKA "Modern Acting")

The invention of film played a huge role in Stanislavski's training techniques. When he saw the way his classically trained actors looked on screen, he realized their performances looked too big and over the top. He therefore changed his approach and developed what is now referred to as Stanislavski's System.

Stanislavski's System teaches actors how to use a mixture of both Classical and improvisational techniques to better access their subconscious mind and give more natural performances in theater and film. The system requires actors to ask themselves the following seven questions whenever preparing for a role:

Who am I?
Where am I?
When is it?
What do I want?
Why do I want it?
How will I get it?
What do I need to overcome?

Stanislavski knew that over time, new mediums would continue to develop, meaning new techniques and methods would become necessary. He knew there could be no "one size fits all" approach and said, "Create your own method. Don't depend slavishly on mine. Make up something that will work for you! But keep breaking traditions, I beg you."

Some famous actors who studied Stanislavski's System include Marlon Brando, Ellen Burstyn, and John Gielgud.

Chekhov Acting Technique

Michael Chekhov was a student of Stanislavski (and nephew of famous playwright Anton Chekhov). He added his own knowledge and ideas to Stanislavski's System, creating the Chekhov Method which became extremely popular in the 1950's.

The Chekhov Method is considered to be a "psycho-physical" approach, where one is to integrate the internal impulses & feelings with external gestures & movements.

The actor needs to physically "show" the character's internal state by using external gestures and expressions. These external movements are then to be subtly concealed so they're not seen as "too big" or melodramatic.

Some famous Chekhov-trained actors include Marilyn Monroe, Clint Eastwood, Johnny Depp, and Jack Nicholson.

Method Acting

Method Acting is one of the most well-known film acting techniques, perhaps because it is so controversial. It was developed by Lee Strasberg and had influences from Stanislavski, Robert Lewis, Stella Adler, and Sanford Meisner. Method Acting allows an actor to truly bring a character to life by using personal memories to bring up raw emotions. Some Method Actors even live as their character for a few weeks before the performance and don't get out of character until the production is entirely complete!

Method Actors often go to extremes for their characters, as shown by these examples:

Robert DeNiro: He spent weeks driving a cab for 12 hours a day while preparing for his role in Taxi Driver.
Daniel Day-Lewis: He caught pneumonia because he refused to wear an insulated coat during the freezing weather when shooting Gangs of New York, since doing so would have taken him out of character.
Nicholas Cage: At the start of his career when he was still a child with baby teeth, he made the filmmaker rip out his two front teeth without anesthesia to allow him better understand the suffering of his character.

Method actors live the life of the character they're playing not just physically, but also emotionally and mentally by first ridding themselves of all their personal thoughts and worries, and then completely immersing themselves in the mind of the character by thinking as the character would think, responding as they would, and feeling as they would.

One drawback of Method Acting however is that some performers who use it can be difficult to direct and work with on set, which can be detrimental to their careers (especially if they're a new actor).

Because Method Acting is so realistic, it's best suited for the screen, where a tiny movement like the raising of an eyebrow can be magnified enough for everyone to see. Some famous actors who used Method Acting include Daniel Day-Lewis, Robert DeNiro, Anne Bancroft, and Angeline Jolie.

Related Article: Character Acting: The Ultimate Guide

Spolin Method

In the early 1950's, Viola Spolin introduced her theater acting technique in Chicago. She was known for creating games in the theater that would allow actors to use improvisation and make choices on the fly to create original and engaging performances.

She was the first acting coach who incorporated the audience into her training, telling her students that both actor and audience needed to interact during performances to "create magic." The spontaneity and improvisation from this technique often led to no two performances ever being alike.

Some famous Spolin-trained actors include Alan Arkin, Fred Willard, Dan Aykroyd, and Gilda Radner.

Meisner Technique

Meisner Technique is a form of training that encourages actors to respond to stimuli using their own natural instincts. Rather than going deep into sense memory and making choices ahead of time for every moment (or "beat") in a scene, Meisner actors are simply meant to respond to external cues in a natural way without thinking too much.

Sanford Meisner developed this technique to help actors get out of their own heads and stop overthinking their performances. The technique was considered groundbreaking because of how easy it was and how little effort was required to "act."

There are three main principles to Meisner Technique:

Emotional Preparation – As with all styles of acting, there is prep work to do, which involves research and decision making. Creating a backstory and making specific choices about the character before the scene begins allows your performance to be more truthful to the character. The one caveat is that these decisions can only be made up until the point where the scene begins. From there on out, everything that takes place must happen on the spot – Meisner Technique is meant to be entirely reactive (meaning your performance will likely change slightly from take to take).
Repetition – Meisner employed repetition in the form of word games, where each actor would say the same line over and over, but with a different emotional tone, in response to however the actor across from them said it. The first actor would say, "You're wearing a hat," and then the second actor would respond, "I'm wearing a hat." This would repeat over and over again, with subtle changes in tone and inflection each time.
Improvisation – Since so much of Meisner Technique is based on reaction and instinct, almost all actors' performances are based in improv (except for the actual words and the choices they make before the scene starts).

Some famous Meisner actors include Sam Naomi Watts, Grace Kelly, Jeff Goldblum, Robert Duvall, and Gregory Peck. Meisner Technique is perfect for film and screen actors.

Related: Access Major Netflix Auditions WITHOUT an Agent

Practical Aesthetics Method

The Practical Aesthetics Method was developed by William H. Macy and David Mamet, using Stanislavski and Meisner influences. It's based on a four-step analysis that allows actors to capture elements of themselves in a character, thereby making every character uniquely their own. In a sense, it allows the actor to highlight elements of their own personal brand in every character they play, asking questions like, "If I were in this situation, what would I do?" and, "How is this situation similar to something I've experienced in my own life?"

Here are the four steps of analysis used:

Step 1 – "Literal" Analysis: First, you must figure out exactly what's going on in the scene. What's being said and what are the meanings of all the lines and words? What's physically happening?
Step 2 – "Want" Analysis: Next, you need to be clear on what the character wants in the scene. Note that we are not asking "why" the character wants it – that's not a part of this acting method.
Step 3 – "Essential Action" Analysis: Third, you need to figure out what you (not the character) are doing in the scene. Are you pleading for help? Planning an attack? Begging for forgiveness?
Step 4 – "As If" Analysis: Finally, you need to figure out how this situation is similar to something you've experienced (or might experience) in your own life. This situation is almost "as if..." what?

Here's an example: Imagine a scene where the character you're playing is being fired from their job at a grocery store.

Step 1: The "Literal" analysis of the scene is that the character is being fired. Someone is yelling at you and telling you you can't work there anymore.
Step 2: The "Want" analysis is that the character wants to keep their job and wants the person firing them not to do so.
Step 3: The "Essential Action" analysis is that you (the actor) are pleading to be able to keep your job.
Step 4: The "As If" analysis could be that the scene is "as if" you had just been told that $1,000 was going to be automatically taken out of your bank account every single month for an entire year, and there's nothing you can do about it.

Practical Aesthetics training teaches that it's impossible to fully embody the mind and emotions of another person (character), so instead, it's best to simply play the scene as you yourself would if you were thrust into that situation.

Famous Practical Aesthetics actors include Felicity Huffman, Scott Parker, Jessica Alba, and Clark Gregg

In Summary

All acting styles in drama have the same goal at the end of the day: To tell a story that keeps audiences engaged, entertained, and interested.

Great acting requires memorization, understanding the context of the scene, knowing your marks, taking direction, and performing in such a way that the audience loses themselves within the story and doesn't focus any attention on your acting.

To be a great actor, you must become a part of the story. Trying to stand out is the exact opposite of what you should do, because a great story is about the story... NOT about the acting. Here's a one-minute video where I go deeper on this:

3 Numbers All Actors Should Know

Knowing the different types of acting is important, but it's just one small part of growing your acting career.

If your goal is to act full-time, you should know these 3 numbers:

40-60 Submissions – This is how often full-time, working actors submit themselves (whether they have an agent or not) each month.
10-20 Auditions – This is how many times full-time working actors audition (or at least record and submit self-tapes) each month.
3-5 Bookings – This is how often full-time working actors book real, paid acting jobs each and every month.

If your numbers aren't there yet, that's OK! It's certainly not easy to audition and book that much.

But those are actual, real numbers from busy, working actors who didn't just get lucky.

Those busy, working actors started at the beginning – for them, the biggest question swirling in their minds at the time was:

How do I get taken seriously by casting directors when I don't have good credits or footage? And how do I get credits/footage without being taken seriously by casting directors?

It's the classic actor's catch 22.

When we're struggling to get our careers off the ground, our minds can slip into "desperation mode" and start looking for quick-fix solutions. We'll ask ourselves questions like:

"Should I take another acting class?"
"Do I need better headshots or should I pay to shoot a reel?"
"What's the fastest way to get an agent?"

But questions like those mean you're focused on Tactics, instead of Strategy.

Think about it this way: Would you bake a cake by randomly sliding a pile of flour, eggs, and chocolate into the oven? Of course not! How you combine the ingredients, the temperature you cook it at, and for how long are all just as important.

Similarly, the long-term, well thought-out strategy you follow as you grow your acting career matters. A LOT.

That's why "strategic thinking" is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself as an actor.

So today I'd like to give you a gift: 3 tools specifically designed to help you start thinking and operating strategically.

These tools have helped over 14,000 actors so far, many of whom have gone on to:

Book Broadway roles
Land network television and Netflix shows
Sign with agents and managers
And much more – faster than you'd expect (you can see some success stories here).

My free Actor's Toolkit will help you BLAST through the actor's catch 22 so you start getting WAY more auditions and bookings every month:

The Actor's Toolkit

The Top 6 Casting Websites to Find Auditions, plus 3 specific submissions strategies to get higher-quality auditions from them
3 Pro Actor Resume Templates, professionally formatted (they work on any device – just add your info)
Contact info of over 140 Top Talent Agencies & Submissions Techniques to save you the hassle of trying to find legitimate (non-scam) agents

Send Me the Toolkit!

Martin Bentsen (author of this guide) is an actor marketing coach who uses strategic thinking to help actors book more work. He’s helped over 14,000 actors with their careers and actor headshots since 2009 and his photography studio City Headshots is ranked #1 on Yelp. He’s spoken at NYU, The New England Theater Conference, The Actor’s Green Room, and other venues.

Want to book more acting work by thinking strategically? Start with his free Actor’s Toolkit to create new opportunities right away, or visit his website at www.martinbentsen.com.

Some Additional Q&A

What are the 4 Types of Acting?

The four major types of acting techniques include Classical Acting, Stanislavski's Method, Method Acting, and Meisner Technique.

What are the 5 Types of Acting?

The five major types of acting classes and techniques include Stanislavski's Method, The Chekhov Acting Technique, Method Acting, Meisner Acting Technique, and Practical Aesthetics Acting Technique.

Types of Acting Techniques: The Ultimate Guide 2023

Types of Acting

​Classical Acting

​​Stanislavski's System (AKA "Modern Acting")

​Chekhov Acting Technique

​ ​Method Acting

​​Spolin Method

​ Meisner Technique

​​Practical Aesthetics Method

​In Summary