In the 1995 cult classic “Clueless” (dir. Amy Heckerling), the audience hears the inner monologue of goodhearted but ditzy Cher (Alicia Silverstone) as she’s struck with the sudden realization that she’s “majorly, totally, butt-crazy in love” with the more serious-minded Josh (Paul Rudd). Most people have a voice in their head that’s just as colorful as Cher’s; but while it can help guide the way in your everyday life, if you’re an actor who doesn’t know how to mute your internal monologue, it can leave you totally buggin.’ If you seek a “sense of control in a world of chaos” like Cher, here’s what you need to give your mental chatter a Tai (Brittany Murphy)–level makeover.
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Your internal monologue, also known as your inner voice or self-talk, is the voice in your head describing your experiences and thoughts. Everybody’s internal monologue is different, shaped by their surroundings, past experiences, and present state of mind. It may appear as coherent, fully embodied thoughts or as a combination of words and visual representations. Maybe you’re debating what to have for dinner, mentally recollecting the items from your shopping list while at the store, replaying a past conversation from your day, or considering a life choice by weighing its advantages and disadvantages—that’s your inner monologue.
Why do we have an inner monologue?
Our inner monologue supports our ability to plan, think, and make sense of the world around us, according to the Association for Psychological Science. It helps us better organize and examine our thoughts, making it a crucial tool for self-control and problem-solving.
But does everyone have an internal monologue? The short answer is no—not everyone experiences this type of inner discussion with themselves. “Some people talk to themselves a lot, some never, some occasionally,” wrote Dr. Russell Hurlburt, who specializes in inner experience. Some people think only in images or abstract concepts, and some people have no inner experience at all. While the majority of people do have an inner voice, it’s not universal.
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Sometimes you need to step out of your own mind and into your character’s. Your internal monologue can become a distraction during a performance, so you’ll likely want to mute it to embody a character’s thoughts and emotions. Here are a few tactics that can help with this goal:
1. Practice mindfulness. Mindfulness can be a powerful tool for silencing a distracting inner monologue, as amusingly depicted on “Parks and Recreation” when the skeptical Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman) attends a meditation session with Chris Traeger (Rob Lowe). “I just stood there, quietly breathing,” he says, erroneously trying to imply that meditation didn’t work for him. “There were no thoughts in my head, whatsoever. My mind was blank.” To achieve Swanson-like mindfulness yourself, practice techniques like deep breathing, grounding exercises, and focusing on sensory details to help stay in the moment and fully inhabit your character.
2. Shake it off. A brisk walk, spin class, weightlifting session, solo dance party, and other forms of exercise can help you get out of your head by making you get into your body.
3. Listen to music. One of the best ways to silence your thoughts is to replace them with something else—and what better replacement than your favorite playlist? Beyond quieting your mind, music can also help you prepare to act in other ways, noted veteran actor Jean Schiffman. “Depending upon your selection, it can calm you down or pump you up before you make an entrance, shoot a scene, or audition,” she wrote. “It can help situate you in a historical period or a particular place. It can activate the specific emotion your character needs at the start of a scene. It can even help you discover your character’s physicality.”
4. Create pre-performance rituals. Pre-performance routines have benefits “from improving attention and execution to increasing emotional stability and confidence,” according to Scientific American. Establish a ritual, such as visualizing a successful performance or reciting an important mantra, to help transition from your personal mindset into that of your character.
Creating an internal monologue for your character allows you to delve further into their mind and add layers to your representation. To get started:
1. Study soliloquies and internal monologues. As an actor, you’re likely familiar with a wide array of soliloquies. These speeches, such as Iago’s self-recognition as a villain in “Othello” or Macbeth’s mental anguish upon learning about the Queen’s death in “Macbeth,” reveal a character’s innermost feelings and are delivered when they’re alone. Spend some time reading and analyzing these soliloquies and their performances to get a grasp on the ways to enter your character’s mind.
How to Deliver a SoliloquyIt can also help to watch internal monologues depicted onscreen, such as the following examples:
- Uber Eats advertisement (2023): In this food delivery commercial, Helen Mirren delivers a fictionalized version of her own inner speech, including the hilarious line, “Ugh, Helen, you’re narrating again, you stupid sausage.”
- “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” (2004, dir. by Michel Gondry): Joel (Jim Carrey) provides insight into his emotions and mental state, such as when he explores his feelings of loneliness while catching a train.
- “Insecure” (2016-2021): Issa (Issa Rae) raps about her deepest thoughts and fears whenever she looks into a mirror.
2. Analyze the script. Engaging in rigorous script analysis allows you to dive deep into your character’s inner world. Interrogate your character, being sure to consider their patterns, feelings, and language, and excavate what your character wants both holistically and in each individual scene. By fully engaging with the character’s objectives and goals, you can quiet your personal thoughts and align yourself more closely with their mindset.
3. Write it out. Once you have a grasp on your character’s interior world, use that as a springboard to creating their inner monologue. For example, if you’re portraying a character who’s hiding something, their inner monologue will likely be filled with feelings of fear or guilt. Think about a time when you felt guilty and write down your thoughts through the lens of your character, striving for a stream of consciousness. The practice of writing makes you think actively about your character and their inner world, allowing you to connect with them on a deeper level.
4. Get physical. Translating your character’s feelings and intentions into physical movements can help you become more present as the character. As the titular Prince says in “Hamlet,” “Suit the action to the word, the word to the action.” Analyze your character’s language and see how that might suit certain actions. For example, if your character is supposed to be angry in a scene, clenching your fists and pacing can help you channel that emotion.
5. Engage with scene partners. Pay close attention to your fellow actors and react to their cues. This will keep you focused on the dynamics of the scene, allowing you to consider how the character would think and respond in every situation.
