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Step 1
Read the script in its entirety, paying close attention to the story. The more you know what’s going on, and why, the better you’ll understand your character’s role.
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Step 2
Go over the script a second time, paying close attention to the relationships among the characters. Make note of how your character feels about other characters, and how they feel about him. Make note of her backstory, any physical characteristics, what she thinks about herself and what the other characters think about her.
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Step 3
Flesh out an entire history for your character, beginning from birth and leading up to where he is at the beginning of the script, with as much detail as you have time for or interest in. Of course, include any facts already provided for you in the script itself. But where there are holes, fill them in. Just be sure that the history you create is a logical progression considering where the character is today.
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Step 4
Memorize your lines as soon as possible. The less you have to concentrate on remembering your dialogue, the more you’ll be able to concentrate on developing your character.
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Step 5
Identify your character’s action and emotion in the scene prior to the one you’re performing. That way you’ll know which emotion to start from, and why.
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Step 6
Identify your character’s goal in the scene. What does she want, who does she want it from, and how far is she willing to go to get it? Also identify the goal of the other characters in the scene. What do they want, who do they want it from, and how far are they willing to go to get it?
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Step 7
Play around with different choices in your interpretation of your character's dialogue, actions, reactions and emotions.
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Step 8
Rehearse the scene with an acting partner to effectively develop a character for acting auditions. Acting is reacting, and that’s hard to do if all you’re reacting to are imaginary “reactions” from a wall.
