I think when a lot of actors hear improv, they think of throwing a line in or doing a slightly different take.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
I think that if you're improvising on TV, it's a great way to help the dialogue between actors and writers.
There are very few actors who are truly good at improvising; that's a real skill.
There are certain actors who are very good at improvising, like Dustin Hoffman and Glenda Jackson.
A lot of times, good improv is when both people, or however many people are in the scene, really have no idea what the next thing you're going to say is.
Improv plays such a huge role in finding great lines - you'll be surprised at what comes out of your mind inadvertently. A lot of times it's better than a script you've worked out ahead of time.
I also think if you're an actor and you can improvise, when you go on an audition and you can improvise you're just a genius. If you can, you know, take a Tide commercial and you can just say one funny line that's not in the commercial they think you're a genius.
From an actor's point of view, if you are watching something, and you see improv, you know it. Because of your experience, you just bloody know that wasn't written.
I think that different actors go about their preparation differently, but when it comes to acting, I use my imagination.
I never did improv professionally, but that was certainly in my training as an actor. I like it.
Improv is a very big thing for me. The thing with actors is I do not understand at all how they do what they do. I'm fascinated by it, and I have such a respect for it.