Portraying a real person on screen isn’t just about imitation — it’s about transformation.
Whether you’re channeling Princess Diana (as Kristen Stewart did in Spencer) or breathing life into a lesser-known figure, biopics and docudramas demand a unique blend of acting skill, research, emotional depth and ethical awareness. Playing a real-life character means carrying someone’s truth, legacy and often controversy into an authentic performance.
How do actors prepare for biopic and docudrama roles? Let’s find out.
Insights: Quick Audition Tips for Biopics
- Go beyond surface-level mimicry—study primary and secondary sources to understand your character’s essence, then internalize their motivations, mannerisms, and emotional truth.
- Approach real-life roles with empathy and ethical awareness, respecting both the subject’s legacy and the story’s needs; consult directors if ethical lines feel blurred.
- Arrive with the character’s voice, posture, and emotional cadence, and highlight past real-person roles or relevant skills on your resume and reel to position yourself for biopic opportunities.
Know Your Target: Who Are You Playing?
Before you even audition, you need to understand who this person is. What is their personality like? How do they speak, move and interact with others? Are they loved, feared, controversial or misunderstood?
Suggestion: Watch Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. Actor Evan Peters (who you may be familiar with from American Horror Story) plays Dahmer, the serial killer. Dahmer had a specific mannerism when he walked. Take notes on how Evan Peters prepared for the role.
Icon vs. Unknown
If the role is based on a well-known figure like Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Barack Obama or Marilyn Monroe, you’re competing with the audience’s preexisting idea of that person. Your performance must give them what they expect — familiarity — while revealing something deeper.
If it’s a lesser-known figure, you have more creative license and a greater responsibility to educate the audience. The challenge is to be compelling without leaning on cultural shorthand.
Context Is Key
Always understand the context of the person’s life. What era did they live in? What were the social norms, political dynamics and cultural landscapes? Performances of the 1920s will differ vastly from those of the 1990s.
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Research Like a Journalist
Did you ever want to be an investigative reporter or act like one? Now’s your chance! Your job is to gather as much first-hand and credible second-hand material as possible to understand your character.
Primary Sources
- Watch interviews or speeches.
- Listen to audio recordings or podcasts.
- Read autobiographies or personal letters.
Secondary Sources
- Biographies, documentaries, historical analyses
- Articles and critiques from credible publications
- Books about the era they lived in
Character Study
- How did they react under stress?
- What were their political views or religious beliefs?
- Did they have physical mannerisms or health issues?
Don’t Mimic – Embody
Impersonating a famous figure is tempting, but great performances come from capturing the essence, not just appearance.
Internalizing the Role
- Don’t copy – instead, translate. What does their cadence mean? What does their posture reveal?
- Ask: If this person were in my skin, how would they think, move and feel? Some actors create a music playlist of what the character would want to listen to.
Actor Biopic Performance Case Studies
- Rami Malek, who played Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody, immersed himself in Mercury’s energy, quirks and vulnerability.
- Austin Butler spent three years embodying Elvis Presley, even after filming wrapped. His vocal and physical commitment helped him win awards and industry respect.
- Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe in My Week with Marilyn showed that nailing vulnerability is just as important as capturing a breathy voice.
Preparing for the Biopic Audition
You have one shot in the audition room, so how do you stand out and bring this person to life?
Bring Evidence of Character Prep
- Don’t just show up with the sides memorized. Bring their voice, posture and emotional cadence to the room.
- Dress in character (not in costume) if it helps to visually place you in the era or subject.
Choose the Right Audition Material
- Some casting directors may provide a monologue based on real dialogue. If you’re asked to prepare your own, choose a piece that emotionally aligns with the character’s known experiences.
Come As Them? Or You?
Each casting team is different. Some prefer actors who stay in character during auditions, while others want to see you first. If you’re not instructed to come as the character, a safe strategy is to greet them as yourself and seamlessly transition into the character.
Ethics & Responsibility
Portraying a real person is a responsibility. You should take it seriously, even if the character is light-hearted.
Sensitive Stories
- Are you portraying someone with a tragic past or a controversial legacy?
- Is this person still alive? Do they have surviving family members?
Fiction vs. Fact
Biopics often compress timelines and/or add dramatic tension. Your job is to respect the person while serving the story. If something feels unethical, ask the director for clarification.
Empathy Is Non-Negotiable
Avoid judgment. Even if the person made questionable choices, your job is to understand their motivations, not condemn them. There may be a point where you do not understand some things, and that’s okay. Ask for direction if you’re unsure how to play those scenes.
Nailing the Callback
Callbacks are your time to shine — again. Think of it like extra credit in school. Directors may test your adaptability and willingness to take direction. You may even be asked to read with an actor who has already been cast.
Adjust Without Losing Essence
- Can you shift energy levels while staying in character?
- Are you willing to try new interpretations while preserving the truth?
Common Direction Notes
- “Can you give us more vulnerability?”
- “Try a version that’s more grounded and internal.”
- “Show us how this person would act if they weren’t in public.”
Be sure you make these adjustments without breaking character.
Building a Biopic-Friendly Resume
Being an actor means you own your own business, so getting the word out about yourself comes with the territory. Even if you haven’t booked a biopic yet, you can start marketing yourself for one.
Resume & Reel Tips
- Highlight roles where you played a real person (stage or screen)
- Include dialect work, voice matching or historical roles
- Add footage from mock biopic auditions or dramatic monologues based on real people
Additional Training
- Take dialect and movement classes
- Study period-specific behavior and mannerisms
- Work with coaches who specialize in historical performance
Final Takeaway
Biopics are considered legacies. As the actor, you have a sacred responsibility to convey the character’s truth, emotion and perspective.
By following the steps above (and maybe even adding some of your own), you’ll elevate the roles in this genre. The next time a casting call comes for a biopic or docudrama, don’t just ask, “Can I look like them?” Ask, “Can I be them?”
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