The Great Acting Blog: “Actors Not Puppets”
For the actor to do his best work, the optimum conditions for him to do so need to be created within the production. If the director is all over the actor, if he wants to control him, then the actor will not do his best work, in fact the reverse will be true, his work will diminish. Space needs to be created by the director for the actor, and within that space the actor should go for it, and then we will see him do great work (which is better for everybody, production and audience). The performance the actor gives is not going to be exactly the same as the one the director (or the writer) saw in their heads. Why? Because the actor is bringing their own imagination, experience and creative individuality to the piece. I am not saying that all actors are wonderful people and should be allowed to do whatever the hell they want, but I am saying they need to be given space to work. If a director is not willing to provide that space, if they are intent on suppressing the actor’s creative individuality, then they might want to consider a career change into puppetry.
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