318. What Makes a Great Actor? The Secrets Behind Incredible Performances

Most of us assume that great actors are just born with it — some natural gift that lets them inhabit a character and move us in ways we can't quite explain. But what actually goes into the performances we love? Is it raw talent, or is there a craft behind it that most of us never get to see? This episode pulls back the curtain on what acting really is, and how the best performers in the world have learned to do what they do. Cynthia Ashperger is a Canadian actress, director, and acting teacher whose work spans stage, screen, and the classroom, with a particular focus on the Meisner technique and the psychophysical dimensions of performance. In this conversation, Zale and Cynthia dig into the training, techniques, and inner work that shape great performances — and what it really takes to move an audience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.