Alter egos abound in fiction because they allow endless opportunities for narrative building and character growth, giving room to explore the duality of human nature—or, on a more functional level, to give someone a secret identity. But it isn’t just Superman and Batman with double lives; alter egos come in many shapes and genres, from a number of relatable characters. Some funny, some serious, and all, well, alternate, alter egos allow people and characters to experience life in another’s shoes.
An alter ego is literally another self, a second identity that a person takes on that is wholly separate and unique from their original self. Latin for “self” or “I,” the ego is one of three parts of human personality according to psychoanalytic theory. As proposed by Sigmund Freud, the ego (in contrast to the id and the superego) is the conscious part of a person’s personality—the awareness of one’s self and how that self is projected to others.
A person may take on an alternate persona to reduce their anxiety and create an optimized version of themself—a practice that celebrities have long tapped into. Beyoncé’s stage name “Sasha Fierce,” for example, was born out of the performer’s desire to portray a more self-confident and sensual persona.
In fiction, alter egos can serve a variety of narrative functions, from giving characters the chance to see the world anew, like in “The Princess Switch,” to offering reflections on the duality of the self and the masks we all wear, like in “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.”
“The Batman” Credit: Jonathan Olley/Warner Bros.
Because they’re such fertile ground for actors and writers, especially as a way of exploring character development, alter egos abound onscreen and onstage.
Batman/Bruce Wayne: Secret identities are a mainstay of the superhero genre, so there’s no shortage of heroes with alter egos. Rich playboy Bruce Wayne and Gotham City–saving Batman epitomize the Freudian alter ego—with yet another layer, the scared little boy, beneath it all. Many amazing actors have played Batman on the big screen over the years, but Christian Bale’s performance in Christopher Nolan’s trilogy may take the cake when it comes to showing Bruce as the alter ego to Batman rather than the other way around.
Miley Stewart/Hannah Montana: For a more lighthearted example, turn to the Disney Channel classic “Hannah Montana,” in which regular high schooler Miley Stewart (Miley Cyrus) is actually pop sensation Hannah Montana. The superstar alter ego allows Miley to express herself to a wide audience of adoring fans—but the pull of becoming another person doesn’t come without its complications. Because she was basically playing a version of herself, Cyrus could pull from her own experience as a teen experiencing international fame at a young age with an eye toward emotional complexity.
Ron Swanson/Duke Silver: Though played as a bit, there’s no denying that Ron Swanson’s alter ego in “Parks and Recreation” is a great example of the trope. Bedecked in dark glasses and fedora, Silver woos the local ladies with his smooth-jazz saxophone and infinite swagger. The super-serious head of the Pawnee Parks and Recreation Department does everything in his power to keep his musical alter ego a secret—perhaps to save his reputation as a boss, or possibly to hide Swanson’s insecurities about his own masculinity. Either way, Nick Offerman plays both characters so well that it’s hard to imagine that there isn’t a real-life Ron Swanson and Duke Silver out there.
Building a realistic character with an alter ego isn’t dissimilar to practicing self-distancing on your own. You’re just going a layer deeper, exploring the psyche of the person you’re going to become on camera or onstage.
1. Consider your own alter ego(s).
Whether you call it that or not, most people have different personae they put on for different situations. Do you have a “work persona” that’s separate from your “going-out persona,” for example? Consider the ways you change your character depending on your surroundings and reflect on those differences.
2. Try self-distancing.
Playing a character with an alter ego will be infinitely easier for an actor who can see the alter egos within themselves. Read up on self-distancing from the experts and practice it for yourself by (as put in Psychology Today) “reflecting on [your] memories like a fly on the wall, rather than as an active participant.”
3. Dive deep into your character.
Once you understand your own alter egos, take the time to study the character you want to play who has an alter ego (not the alter ego itself). How do they feel about themselves? Is there a reason they want to take on an alternate persona? Understanding the motivations that drive a character to take on this new identity is the first step toward playing them with complexity.
4. Clearly differentiate their personae.
After studying your character, continue on to study their alter ego. Consider what makes the two different—not just on a psychological level, but a physical one, too. What different mannerisms will the alter ego assume to hide their other identity? Think of the two as two separate characters and perform them as such.
5. Get into character to get into character.
Once you’ve studied up on your character and their alter ego, it’s time to test their chemistry. Practice playing your character’s alter ego with the mindset that you’re playing a character. While this might feel counterintuitive to someone trying to act more naturally, remember that you’re two levels deep and more or less self-distancing in character.