[Tridentus]

I've noticed INFPs make very excellent actors and performers.

What I see happening is that because stage personna is something separate from their real selves, INFPs can take confidence from it, even while they might remain shy in reality. Although, typically I've noticed they tend to take a lot of confidence from it as well (as you would).


Obviously experience and expressive-confidence are still important factors, but once INFPs get over this hurdle, Fi-dom with Ne-supp can be incredibly effective, possibly even more so than for ENFPs who are seen as traditional actors. Fi-dom allows for a greater deal of empathy, and INFPs are often great at taking roles deeper and more subtly.

What do you guys think? I mean, obviously you're not all going to think this about yourselves individually, but as a general thing for INFPs who are allowed to explore this arena.

 

[bigstupidgrin]

It's all about the Ne. We can assume the role/attitude of somebody else. Celebrity types (love them or hate them. I like them) say method actor Marlon brando was an INFP.

 

[Tridentus]

@bigstupidgrin

a bunch of high profile actors are INFPs. I'd say that while more ENFPs are actors/actresses (our personality probably makes the profession more appealing/accessible), more legendary/world class actors are INFPs than ENFPs. Just off the top of my head there is also Ralph Fiennes who is just one of the most incredible actors in the world (on a par with anyone for me, it's just his appearance that tends to pigeon hole him a bit).

In fact, if an INFP is successful as an actor, coming through the initial barriers they have to do so, I think they generally become very exceptional.. And those that make it to Hollywood level are all like Oscar level. I'm 100% serious.


I've been getting back in touch with my Korean roots, and there's a South Korean singer/actress whom I'm 100% sure is an INFP called SeoHyun (Girls Generation).. For the first few years she was the stereotypical young INFP, painfully shy and a late-bloomer confidence-wise.. It was mainly her voice, looks and diligence that enabled her to be a singer. But even while she was still shy, she was randomly incredible at acting.. Now that she's exploring that medium for a while, she's taking to it incredibly naturally. You can tell the difference between someone who gets very good at something over practice and effort, and someone who just takes to something like a duck to water..

 

[Sily]

Completely and totally agree, about the *acting thing*. For me -- it comes VERY easy. I let go of me and my current reality and lose myself in the fantasy of another persona. EASY PEASY! All it takes is a little bit of creativity and imagination. Hmm, I suppose writers might do the same. Sort of.

"INFPs can make outstanding novelists and character actors, for they are able to efface their own personalities in their portrayal of a character in a way other types cannot." - (source)

 

[Im FiNe]

I have enjoyed acting. I wouldn't offer that I was any good.

I also enjoyed playing pen-&-paper role playing games.

Through the early college I was very uncomfortable about speech making, talking in front of the class, and that sort of thing. I never had that reaction when acting though. I had butterflies beforehand imagining how I might screw up, forget lines, and that line of perfectionistic speculative dread. I didn't really feel intimidated while performing. Then afterwards there were the necessary self-slights about perceived errors in delivery.

When acting it's not about me. I deliver the character's lines, the thoughts behind his words, and not my own. It's the character's mode of thinking and feeling that the audience judges and not mine, not me.

 

[mehmehmeh]

I think about this a lot tbh because i really feel, of every occupation, i'd be in my element doing something like acting. I love biographies for a start, and I tend to find I can relate to anyone when I come to understand their view on an intrinsic level. More than that, I can see elements of myself in most people (good or bad) which might sound odd i'm not sure.

I tend to find whoever i am around long enough (fictional or real) that i naturally start to absorb their quirks and tendencies and act them out myself (involuntarily most of the time). (-- Same goes for accents when I travel. They corrupt my dialect like nobodies business.)

There is nothing i would like more than to have a job that revolves around researching characters, absorbing their quirks, their traits, their mannerisms, their values, and then just letting lose on a stage or a set. It just sounds amazing to me, and such a beautiful way to express yourself passionately, without anyone knowing its you, if you get what i mean.

I imagine actors really benefit from having mentors though. Someone who believes in them and see their potential before they do themselves (almost to the point of being picked). It is such a big hurdle to overcome otherwise. Without that kind of push and positive affirmation to begin with I know I'd never have the confidence to pursue it.

 

[Tridentus]

@mehmehmeh

The initial breach of getting into acting and developing confidence is definitely a huge hurdle tbh..

Even as an ENFP who is outgoing- even though acting and "lying" in a pranking way with friends comes incredibly easily to me (I used to go around telling people I was the 2nd person ever born in Antarctica and that I was on the news. My dad was a scientist measuring ice, and my mom was an expert on penguins), acting within university has been very hit and miss because of the nerves I feel due to inexperience. I got a lot of praise and laughs doing my first ever performance on stage doing comedy, but I've also done a couple of uni sitcom appearances where I feel like I haven't been able to show much depth because I haven't had the experience and confidence that would take around 3-4 experiences to build up.

I figure the same would apply to INFPs, but even more so. Once they got past that initial barrier which might seem very scary- they'd be very suitable for acting.

 

[mehmehmeh]

On reflection, comedy and buffoonery certainly seem like they must be the least daunting gateway into acting- unless you are a child star who had the whole gig thrust upon them from an early age (but I don’t think i envy their positions very much) , which is something I hadn’t really considered. I guess that it needn’t feel, nor should feel, like this severe and intense thing (not that anything should) even if one does aspire to doing those grade of roles.

--With this in mind, i might take to my youtube account and experiment a bit - -or not lol--

But yes, stage fright is no myth I suppose. I cant imagine setting foot on stage (well, I can - its my main off put) but I can only imagine trying to break into those more intense roles as like going to the gym and adding further dumbbells to the bars, a little at a time (and with about fifty people leering at you). Just as is everything, I guess its a matter of baby steps and building up to, which sounds just like what you are doing -- Though I am sure some (healthy) nerves will always remain no matter how much experience you acquire.

I tend to fantasise if i was an actor, in trying to use those nerves as a means to an ends type thing. Using them as a way to push me further into my role, displacing who I am and forgetting where i am in favour of the character i'm portraying. But the reality with that i suppose also comes with how much intensity you are comfortable (and confident) showing to an audience, which all loops back to experience I guess.

Even as an ENFP who is outgoing- even though acting and "lying" in a pranking way with friends comes incredibly easily to me (I used to go around telling people I was the 2nd person ever born in Antarctica and that I was on the news. My dad was a scientist measuring ice, and my mom was an expert on penguins)

This resonates with me. I used to enjoy doing a similar style of pranks

 

[UpClosePersonal]

My entire outward personality is an act. I've realized I am the chameleon like Woody Allen's Zelig. I feel like I have no personality of my own or I don't have any confidence in it. I learned early in life that when I'm myself, people think there's something the matter with me. I'm forever lacking in self confidence but I play confident very well. I have to be careful when I act confident or people attribute qualities to me that I don't possess.

 

[telepariah]

I think I can act a little but I have never tried to develop it and am not confident that I can make my face show anything that I am not actually feeling. I am pretty good at public speaking but then I am just being myself with material I have written to be delivered in my own voice. I have a brother who is a very accomplished actor and director (Tony nominated). He is also INFP and can become absolutely anybody in performance. It amazes me how he can just become another person. Nope, I don't have that.

 

[hyehh]

Johnny Depp, Marlon Brando, Heath Ledger, Andrew Garfield, Robert Pattinson, Mia Wasikowaska, Nicholas Cage, Jude Law, Chloe Sevigny, Mary-Kate Olsen, Jennifer Jason Leigh are all INFPs. I heard that INFPs make great actors/actresses cause of their high sensitivity, their big range of emotions, their ability to mirror other's emotions, and knowing themselves so well. It helps to understand other people/characters too. And (I'm and INFP dreaming of being an actress too) I'm really good at seeing the hidden meaning or the emotion in the lines. And the situation before and after the situation in the lines. I think our ability to see the stories or meanings behind things also helps too. And we have so many different sides to our personality (though most people don't know) also makes us great actor/actresses too!!)))

 

[hyehh]

It's okay. Being able to public speak is a huge talent too. For instance, I'm really confident on stage when I'm acting but I went out on this speech contest at school and I got sooooooo nervous I messed up big time. Everybody has their own talent and that's what makes everybody special and interesting

 

[hyehh]

I loved playing scenes by myself ever since I was little. I would try to play the same emotions for different characters. I wondered how different types of characters would express the same emotions. I never noticed what I enjoyed and what I was doing was actually 'acting' until I was 14. And ever since then I realized acting was my true passion. And now I'm a senior in high school getting ready for acting schoolBut I never got why drama class were always for the loud out going ones.........

 

[KingZhivago]

There's this thing i do with my uncle where we re-cite movie lines from our favorite movies (sometimes damn near the whole movie lol)

A few of my regular customers at work have advised me to go out for acting. They tell me that i have "the face" for it (?) They also say my face is expressive and full of emotion (?????) I mean i plan on being an actor in the near future but i don't think i have what it takes just yet to try to.

From a performance standpoint, i might get nervous but its all about keeping the focus

 

[Afropastepanda]

i'd love to be an actor, even though ive never done it.

I'd just hate the life that comes along with being an actor (interviews, press releases, showing up for events, meetings and shit)

 

[Tytteas]

I really wish I could act as in being an actress. I can't imagine a more awesome job. But yeah, I can't act, not intentionally anyway- I suppose I do a lot of acting by hidding my self behind a surface, but it never felt like acting. Maybe it all comes down to some bad (well to my sensitive mind anyway) experiences from a young age, and combined with me being very shy and having practically no self-confidence, well, it's just not going to happen - and I can't do the whole loose myself in a part and distance myself from myself I'm way too self-concious!

 

[Allyrah]

I imagine I'd be great at acting. I mean, every day I have to act like I have a clue how to be social and function in society. I've basically played a role since the moment I realized being an idealistic daydreamer isn't 'enough' for this world. *sigh*

 

[JustMakingIt]

Entirely true for me as well. Acting comes naturally since my life is an act of sorts. With great ease I adjust my persona to situations, places, and other personalities to the point that I may seem schizophrenic. Maybe this is a common INFP characteristic, as many of us have experienced great hurt and feel guarded.

 

[Blue Sphere]

My solo-acting presentation in my middle school drama class was laughed at hard because peeps had no idea what I was portraying or doing. Sure, I really wasn't trying but that still hurt a lot you know?

But at least I am naturally quite good at lying. However whether that's bad or good is something I question.

 

[Morfy]

I personally couldn't do that. I can't even handle normal facial expressions so my acting would be really terrible haha