10 Simple Things Actors Can’t Make Look Convincing
How is "waking up" so hard to act out?
Actors often go above and beyond to ensure their performance isn't just entertaining, but believable. Keanu Reeves spent two years training with firearms for John Wick. Christian Bale has repeatedly transformed his body to encapsulate the role he's portraying. Daniel Day-Lewis refuses to break character on every project he's worked on.
And yet, the biggest stars in the business can sometimes struggle to make the simplest thing look legit. When a Hollywood A-lister is playing a soldier or a superhero, they may seem like the real deal. But when it comes to brushing teeth or playing a video game, it doesn't always look convincing.
Now, this isn't always the performers' fault. If the action in question looks boring, actors might have to jazz it up for the sake of entertainment. Activities like eating or drinking are also rarely portrayed authentically, since it's a nightmare for continuity.
Although certain actors have been in the industry for decades, have trained with the best, and have an Oscar or two under their belt, they may have trouble looking genuine while performing the most innocent task.
10. Driving
No matter how bad an actor is at driving, editing tricks can be utilised to make them look like a Grand Prix champion.
However, an actor's driving skills don't always translate on-screen, even when performing the simplest action. In certain shots, the car won't be on the road and instead, be propped on a rig, with a projected image in the background. While rear projection certainly has its charm, the resulting image isn't what you'd call convincing.
Interestingly, this can be an issue for anyone in a car scene, even if they're not the one driving. In North By Northwest, for instance, the actor in the backseat, Ken Lynch, forgets to lean his body when the car turns. His co-star, Cary Grant, noticeably (and angrily) shoves into Ken, reminding him he's meant to lean to the side.
This isn't to say that driving never looks convincing on screen, of course. Actors will regularly drive actual vehicles in scenes, while clever editing can place them right in a car drifting through the Paris streets when a stunt driver is doing the hard part. That isn't always the case however, as there's little an actor can do to combat an unconvincing effect.