How do you make your character more believable?

Question:I've joined an evening class to learn about acting.

I enjoy the improvisation part of the night where small groups have 5 minutes to improvise a short sketch on a given topic - lovers parting; meeting an old school-friend in the street, angry response to a particular situation...

Can you advise on giving the characterisation a better sense of realism and depth for an audience - I tend to get really self-conscious about it and the scene falls apart.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I've joined an evening class to learn about acting.

I enjoy the improvisation part of the night where small groups have 5 minutes to improvise a short sketch on a given topic - lovers parting; meeting an old school-friend in the street, angry response to a particular situation...

Can you advise on giving the characterisation a better sense of realism and depth for an audience - I tend to get really self-conscious about it and the scene falls apart.

Let yourself BECOME the character you are portraying, and quit acting. Read a bit on Stanislavsky, and his "method". Study various types of people, read the experiences of people in various places and times, and absorb them into your repertoir.

just block out everything but your character and what your intentions are, you will do alright

Ah if you don't believe in your character no one else will. So the best way is to do like when you were a child PRETEND you are that person in that situation and take risks and do things that the character would do but maybe not you. If you are not the type of person to yell for any reason but you character in say bobby knight then yeah you need to shout shove and throw a chair. An actor should never be afraid to look stupid. Remeber it'snot you it's the character doing the actions.