4 Memorization Methods Used by A-List Actors

The ability to memorize lines is an inherent requirement for acting, but some thespians can struggle with that aspect of the job.

Perhaps you’ve never landed on a tried-and-true method of memorization and simply wing it every time you audition or film a project. Or maybe you’ve used the same technique for years but are looking to explore other options that could work better. Either way, we’ve got you covered with four memorization techniques endorsed by A-list actors who share an impressive list of credits and awards between them.

1. Write out the first letter of each word of dialogue.

Robert Downey Jr. is a two-time Oscar nominee who helped catalyze the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) via his initial portrayal of Tony Stark in 2008’s Iron Man. The actor is a household name thanks to his repeated performances as the superhero in various MCU installments and is also well-known for his turn as Sherlock Holmes in the Warner Bros. feature adaptations of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s characters.

Early in the comeback stage of his career, Downey Jr. detailed to Today his process of writing down the first letter of each word of dialogue in order to get his lines down. During the interview, he gave the example of writing down the letters “T-N-S-I-M-G.” He then translated them into the sentence they represented: “There’s no shame in my game.”

If you want to try Downey Jr.’s technique, be sure to practice going over the first letters of your dialogue until the words they represent can be recited amidst any distractions.

2. Listen to your lines while exercising.

You may know Terry Crews from his work playing Hale Caesar across the three installments of The Expendables film series or as Terry Jeffords in FOX’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine. And fans of America’s Got Talent can see him hosting the popular competition show.

The NFL player-turned-actor is certainly a household name, and it’s fitting that the former athlete incorporates exercise into his memorization process. “I’ll speak my lines into a recorder and put it on a loop on my iPod and listen to it while I run, and by the time I’m done with my run, I know all my lines,” Crews shared during an interview with AskMen.

“I think your brain kicks into another gear when you’re doing something repetitive like running.” Crews told Time that he sometimes utilizes the same method when lifting weights. You don’t have to be a fitness expert, though, to try out Crews’ technique of combining auditory memorization with physical activity.

3. Write out your subtext.

The late Queen Elizabeth II made Helen Mirren a dame in 2003 for her services to the performing arts, and a few years later, she won Best Actress at the 2007 Academy Awards for her portrayal of the monarch in Stephen Frears’ The Queen.

That said, it may come as no surprise that the screen sovereign was tapped to teach a MasterClass on acting, including her guide to memorizing lines. In it, she asserts that “knowing your character’s deep motivations can help boost your memory” when it comes to learning lines, and she suggests writing the subtext of your character’s dialogue on every page of the script in which they appear. So if you’re interested in exploring Mirren’s memorization technique, you’ll also reap the benefit of additional script analysis.

4. Read, read and read again.

Like Mirren, Anthony Hopkins also received recognition from Queen Elizabeth II when she knighted him in 1993, one year after his Best Actor win for The Silence of the Lambs.

The 85-year-old thespian took home another statuette from the category in 2021 for his work in Florian Zeller’s The Father, becoming the oldest person to ever win an acting Oscar. But the octogenarian’s memory is seemingly unaffected by age, and Hopkins is known for his dedication to getting his lines deeply ingrained into his brain.

One co-star from The City of Your Final Destination shared with NBC how Hopkins “becomes so familiar with his dialogue that it becomes second nature.” An interview with AARP referenced the impressive number of times he’ll read a script in order to fully memorize it: 200, to be exact. We’re not saying you have to hit triple digits with your script reading reps, but learning your lines by going over them, again and again, is a Hopkins-endorsed method that may work for you.

When it comes to figuring out your best memorization method, consider the techniques utilized by Downey Jr., Crews, Mirren and Hopkins.

Discovering your best process for this core aspect of the craft can only help your career. And while you might not end up a dame or a sir, you may just find yourself joining the ranks of A-list actors one day.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in 2021 and has been updated for clarity and consistency with current events.