Many people have made a career being typecast. If you are getting work, enjoy that fact even though it can be frustrating. Find the “right” acting coach to extend your repertoire into comedy – although a good actor uses inflection to make their baddy into a comedic character.

Maybe comedy is your forte. But if you’re thinking about what your face, heart and mind are doing whilst performing you haven’t done enough rehearsal. You should be performing without anything on your mind, it should come automatically just as in a real situation.

On screen, the thought or emotion is the act. In essence, stop acting. Get a video camera then film yourself thinking and feeling three distinct thoughts/emotions from your experience – about a bad experience, a happy one, something you couldn’t care less about, etc. Then watch yourself, especially your eyes. Make sure you’re not “watching yourself” whilst doing the exercise, just honestly be in the moment.

You make the choices, chose two, clear, contrasting motivations – but – listen to the casting agent if they make a suggestion. They are not there to direct you, but, if they see something in what you do, they may do so a little. And remember that, even if you do not get that particular role, they may think of you for another role. You are advertising yourself, but you don’t get a sale from every advert.

The mirror is about the worst thing you can do: if you are watching yourself you cannot be in the moment. Use a video camera but ignore it when performing.

Stop thinking about acting and feel the emotion. Once you start “watching yourself” you’ve lost the plot. Most people “feel” their way through life. Learn the lines until you don’t have to think about them then just react to the situation your character is in.