What Does Your Character Know?

I remember one of the "break through" moments I had as an actor. It came, appropriately, watching an interview with my favorite actor Harrison Ford.

He was discussing his character Jack Ryan from the film "Patriot Games". When asked how he plays an action hero like this he said (more or less, my version of it) "You don't start out by making him an action hero, you start out by what he is and knows. He's a husband and father then everything flows from there."

It was one of those "Eureka!" moments. It seems like such a simple statement but how profound. Don't play your character how everyone thinks it's supposed to be, play your character based from what they actually are.

Jack Ryan's family was in danger. He didn't recklessly run into harms way, guns blazing, like an "action hero". He was a Father protecting his family, doing what he had to do.

What better way to be "believable in imaginary circumstances!" What a fantastic way to approach a character!

Thanks for the insight, Indy!

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