I did a lot of theatre growing up: acting, lights, make-up, assistant stage managing; I pretty much ran the gamut.  Some of you know I met my husband when we worked as actors at a haunted house.  And here's another interesting thing about art: most artists put themselves into the work, through their characters and points of view, as we've been discussing with photography and fiction.  Your characters aren't you, of course, but generally there's a kernel there.  However, actors, really good ones, have to be able to empty themselves completely and be filled with whatever persona they're taking on.  Most people aren't aware of how much charisma and recognition are based on non-aesthetic cues, like carriage, body-language, expression.  To me the best actors are often those it takes you a while to recognize from part to part because they've changed so much of themselves. 

I once saw a play in college performed in part by two of my best friends at the time.  It was avant-garde—no logical dialogue or plot—and absolutely fascinating, mostly because I couldn't see either of them in their roles.  If I hadn't known it was them, I might never have guessed, even though neither was exactly forgettable. 

That might have been the moment that I knew acting wasn't truly for me.  It takes an immense amount of talent and a certain mind-set to be able to do that.  I was never able to completely loose myself, empty myself of the insecurities, the focus, the concentration, let the character take me over and basically just use my body as its puppet. 

It's very interesting to me with writing, though, that when I'm on the right track I really do feel as though I'm just channeling my characters.  Possibly this is because I can pour them onto the page and don't have to hold them inside me.  I don't know, but it's intriguing.  I'd love to hear all your thoughts.