Overview

Drawing on Ken Rea’s 35 years’ teaching experience and research, as well as interviews with top actors and directors, The Outstanding Actor identifies seven key qualities that the most successful actors manifest, along with practical exercises that help nurture those qualities and videos to demonstrate them. Featuring contributions and insights from Ewan McGregor, Jude Law, Judi Dench, Al Pacino, Lily James, Rufus Norris and many more, The Outstanding Actor gives you techniques that you can immediately put into practice in rehearsals, classes or private preparation. It also shows you how to increase the chances of having a more successful career. This new edition covers topical issues such as the #MeToo movement, gender balance and race issues, and how these affect working conditions and careers. There are also brand new links to video resources that bring the valuable exercises to life. The book also includes forewords by Damian Lewis and Lily James.

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9781350152366

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Reviews

The classes with Ken at Guildhall, I consider to be the most important part of the acting training. They are exercises in patience, unpredictability and encouraging students to make utter fools of themselves - vital for any actor embarking on a life in the profession. * Michelle Dockery * Ken's classes were some of the most interesting that I was lucky enough to attend at drama school. He opened the mind to what acting could be. * Ewan McGregor * Ken taught us to be dangerous, to abandon any sense of failure and to take risks - that's where to find creativity. A lesson we can never stop learning. * Orlando Bloom * This book demystifies the art of acting and provides us with invaluable tools to stay active and keep going. Ultimately, it inspires us to take charge of our own destiny. * Lily James * When we think of our favourite actors, we are drawn to danger, risk, charisma, spontaneity, charm...Ken is a master at drawing these qualities out of you and teaching you to own them. He's brilliant, and so is this book. * Paapa Essiedu * Written by someone who has a complete and utter grip on the nuances of the acting profession and whose main purpose in publishing such a book is to further the actor's understanding. The inclusion of links to videos showing in more detail what Ken is writing about is a brilliant addition and can only add to the reader's passion. * Musical Theatre Review *

The classes with Ken at Guildhall, I consider to be the most important part of the acting training. They are exercises in patience, unpredictability and encouraging students to make utter fools of themselves - vital for any actor embarking on a life in the profession. * Michelle Dockery * Ken's classes were some of the most interesting that I was lucky enough to attend at drama school. He opened the mind to what acting could be. * Ewan McGregor * Ken taught us to be dangerous, to abandon any sense of failure and to take risks - that's where to find creativity. A lesson we can never stop learning. * Orlando Bloom * This book demystifies the art of acting and provides us with invaluable tools to stay active and keep going. Ultimately, it inspires us to take charge of our own destiny. * Lily James * When we think of our favourite actors, we are drawn to danger, risk, charisma, spontaneity, charm...Ken is a master at drawing these qualities out of you and teaching you to own them. He's brilliant, and so is this book. * Paapa Essiedu *

Written by someone who has a complete and utter grip on the nuances of the acting profession and whose main purpose in publishing such a book is to further the actor's understanding. The inclusion of links to videos showing in more detail what Ken is writing about is a brilliant addition and can only add to the reader's passion. * Musical Theatre Review * Extremely well-written and clear to follow ... A must have for any actor's bookshelf, and one that needs to be frequently revisited. * West End Best Friend * The classes with Ken at Guildhall, I consider to be the most important part of the acting training. They are exercises in patience, unpredictability and encouraging students to make utter fools of themselves - vital for any actor embarking on a life in the profession. * Michelle Dockery * Ken's classes were some of the most interesting that I was lucky enough to attend at drama school. He opened the mind to what acting could be. * Ewan McGregor * Ken taught us to be dangerous, to abandon any sense of failure and to take risks - that's where to find creativity. A lesson we can never stop learning. * Orlando Bloom * This book demystifies the art of acting and provides us with invaluable tools to stay active and keep going. Ultimately, it inspires us to take charge of our own destiny. * Lily James * When we think of our favourite actors, we are drawn to danger, risk, charisma, spontaneity, charm...Ken is a master at drawing these qualities out of you and teaching you to own them. He's brilliant, and so is this book. * Paapa Essiedu *

Author Information

Ken Rea is Professor of Theatre at Guildhall School of Music & Drama. He is a theatre director, acting teacher, writer and one of Europe's leading presentation skills trainers.

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