The INTP and Acting

[Duxwing]

Dear Forum,

Before my existential despair, I loved to act: telling stories, cracking jokes, using accents, and all to good acclaim (I've won a single third-place trophy in my regional Forensics competition). And especially improv, the thrill was extraordinary! Pulse-pounding, eyes-gleaming, the glory of the moment! And yet to read of your introversion around here makes me doubt my type. I can talk to strangers easily, sometimes too easily; yet, we soon tire of one another as I retreat back inside myself. It's odd, really, almost like a single half-cycle of a sine wave: from intrigued to excited to introverted once more. Perhaps it's all the therapy I've had; I've learned to hold eye contact, maintain normal speech time limits, the whole gamut from the ground up. It doesn't ever feel quite natural though, just like very, very good acting. It's tiring.

So, how does the average INTP relate to acting?

-Duxwing

 

[Architect]

Best example is Larry David who is definitely an INTP. He's enormously successful now (due to INTP style humor of taking things out of context, which he used in Seinfeld and in Curb Your Enthusiasm) but was too 'high level' as a stand up comic when he was younger. He was known as a 'comics comic' who wouldn't dumb himself down for the audience. For example, when he came out he wouldn't introduce himself but would just launch into his routine. LD has obviously very strong Ne primarily which he uses in his acting. He uses Ti to develop his material.

Jim Parsons who plays Sheldon Cooper on Big Bang Theory is probably an INTP. Sheldon Cooper is some combination of an INTP, ISTJ and Aspbergers character. Obviously he is very able to channel this character, but I suspect he's not as good as a general character actor.

There have been some other actors who people commonly believe are INTP's but I don't see compelling evidence for that, such as Mary Kate/Ashley.

Ultimately it seems that INTP's can use their Ne and mimic abilities to act.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

Adymus, a former member, once speculated about an "acting fetish" with inferior Fe:
http://intpforum.com/showthread.php?t=5396


It does seem a tendency of Ni/Fe, from my observations. I suppose it could be Fe + Intuition related.

 

[Santiago]

I found out recently that I love to act. I find it entertaining to mimic what a character should be like, I imagine myself as that character not just playing him, but as if I was actually that character. I enjoy constructing the character based on my knowledge of people from only the lines on the page.

 

[koan]

I worked in the film industry for 15 yrs. I was known for being able to get along with difficult actors. Not all actors are E.

I've always been introvert but thought I enhanced my natural tendencies by choosing an extrovert profession. I didn't take the easy path. It made me able to associate with people I would normally run from. It was challenging in many ways too. As a result, I perform but it drains all my energy. If I go to a work function I am the entertainer, the 'artist', the 'whacky one' and I love that I make people laugh. I still go home not relating to a single person I encountered. I know a lot of actors. I worked with James Earl Jones. Performing is either an escape or a self discovery. Only you know what you are using it for. It doesn't bring happiness but what else does?

 

[Ink]

probably[/I] an INTP. Sheldon Cooper is some combination of an INTP, ISTJ and Aspbergers character. Obviously he is very able to channel this character, but I suspect he's not as good as a general character actor.

I believe he is an insecure ESFJ: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FFV28XxB-A

Christopher Walken on the other hand is a good example of an INTP actor: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1h0b8Oo4D3M

 

[Code_Name_Ozz]

I was an actor in highschool, and in college when I pursued my first degree. I never was the stereotypical, motor-mouthed, socialite that most actors tend to be. After college I gave it up. I realized it had more to do with looks and fitting stereotypes. In that industry, havinng any actual talent is entirely circumstancial.

 

[Lordran Nights]

Aubrey Plaza is a definite INTP. She acts in a way that I think is sort of natural and not creepy. Sometimes my friends have told me I can relate to people unaturally. I've got one ENFP that is particularly brutal with his insults. Like I have creepy eyes or look like a pervert. He's a dick! But it's constructive criticism at the end of the day.
Like when I was learning to maintain eye contact, my eye's would go all starey, probably just like the stereotypical pervert as I was focusing on eye's and that would be what I was concentrating on. Anyway my friend would give me his feedback and I think through practicing in the mirror and not being starey and practicing on real people with RELAXED natural eyes, getting used to it I'd say my eye contact has become almost natural.
I think INTPs maybe need to watch out when they are acting because it might come across as unnatural - like it was pointed out in that Jeff Golblum thread - and a bit creepy.
It's like INTPs have to practice being congruent - let the outer image match the emotion you are feeling.
This Aubrey Plaza clip is brilliant by the way:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmmB9DGKqbE

and I think Marion Cottillard is also INTP:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErOYvFnDXF8&feature=fvwrel

 

[yogurtexpress]

INTPs actually make great actors. because they're always pretending to be somebody else anyway