A cold read (or sight reading) is used to test an actor’s natural ability to follow their instincts, and take direction in the moment.
In most auditions, being familiar with the sides is a key component for preparation. During a cold read, you don’t have that opportunity, and that’s the point.
While it is possible to practice in anticipation of a cold read, it’s important to allow your process to unfold in the moment. It’s not about connecting to the script as fast as possible or reciting a perfect read. Casting directors want to see you come in, act on impulse, stay present and respond naturally to the material.
Key Insights
- Casting directors use cold reads to evaluate how an actor responds under pressure, and what their process looks like. It’s not about giving a polished performance on the first take.
- The 90-second preparation window before a cold read has a learnable structure, and actors who use it strategically are more likely to do well during a cold read.
- Cold-reading mistakes that actors make include mishandling the material, overthinking and misunderstanding the purpose of a cold-read audition.
What Casting Directors Are Actually Evaluating During a Cold Read
Casting directors are usually evaluating instinct, specificity of choice and coachability under pressure. It’s not about being line-accurate or perfectly polished in record time. Even reaching this stage of an audition means you’ve cleared a shortlist and they want to test a different skill.
They want to see if you can take direction on the fly. A safe cold read means an actor has recited the lines well and completed the task. But a truly good cold read, done well, means an actor has listened, trusted in their own ability and made something of the lines, even under pressure.
Casting director Kim Williams advises to make strong, confident choices: “If you go a little bigger than necessary, it’s okay. We can pull you back from that, but at least we know there’s something there that can be worked with.”
Once you understand what a cold read is, and what it is being used for, you can prepare for them ahead of time. Planning strategically will help exercise the muscle and show off the skills that are being evaluated at the audition.
How to Prepare for a Cold Read: A Step-by-Step Framework
While it isn’t possible to learn a character’s entire backstory, or memorize a Shakespearean monologue in 90 seconds or less, you can prepare for a cold read by applying this framework, splitting the time evenly across three steps:
Step 1 – Once you’re handed the material, read through it and identify the scene’s dramatic event, plus any drastic changes between the first and last line. This way, you can plot your emotional journey.
Step 2 – Identify what your character wants and the obstacle for the scene. Don’t worry about backstory or context you don’t have.
Step 3 – Mark two or three specific words or phrases to commit to. Highlight these with physical or vocal anchors, so that you can have performance moments where you articulate your choices.
Reading out loud as many times as you can in one minute might seem like a good use of time, but it’s actually hindering your progress. Repetition is a memorization technique, and is not helpful for a cold-read exercise.
Theater Cold Reads and TV Cold Reads
For theater auditions, directors expect fuller commitment and page independence when it comes to cold reads. You should be able to read from the sides with confidence, while owning the space. The ability to make choices under pressure is being evaluated here as it translates to what performing on stage can feel like.
A cold read for a TV production requires a different approach. Although it’s essentially the same type of task, what’s actually being looked at is not just about you. Casting will look at how you fit within an existing ensemble dynamic. They might have you read for a different role, or read a new scene, so they can gauge your responsiveness. Or maybe they need to hear you read a few more times before they make their choice.
Casting director Jessica Sherman says a lack of knowledge when it comes to the casting process is a common mistake actors make before they come in: “There have been approximately 30 people who have had to sign off to say you were the right person. The best person may not always be the one who gets the role. The person that everyone can agree on gets the role. Having that background information is a huge asset to actors, because it takes the pressure off a little bit, as far as their experience in the room.”
Five Cold Reading Mistakes
- Over Apologizing Before or After the Read – It’s not about “getting it right,” so apologizing for a pre-conceived notion of “getting it wrong” signals low self trust and a lack of understanding for what is being asked of you.
- Keeping your Eyes on the Page – A cold read is an audition task, not a reading assessment, so you need to engage with your audience. Even imperfect eye contact during key beats is better than delivering to the paper.
- Making a Non-Committal Choice – Making a neutral choice because you feel like you need more time to understand the backstory or context, shows casting that you don’t understand what is being asked of you. Even strong and wrong is better than a careful nothing.
- Over Selling It – Trying to impress casting with your quick memorization skills is also a common mistake actors make. The confidence is great, but it’s not a memorization test. Apply the confidence to the choices you’re making.
- Rushing or Panicking – Actors who dislike this part of an audition might try to get through it as fast as possible. Panic can also be brought on by pressure — casting directors know you haven’t had long with the material so they’ll apply some grace. Take a breath.
How to Practice Cold Reading
To practice cold reading, you can use published scripts from TV episodes or short monologues from classic plays. For scenes, you can work with a reader, or use an app to help give you a condition-matched practice system. Apps like ActOnCue don’t replace the human element of working with an actor or partner, but they will help you develop the mechanical skills you need to be prepared for future auditions.
Georgy, founder of, ActOnCue, recommends his app to help with self taping, learning lines and picking up cues: “To build your cold-reading muscle through regular practice, you can load any scene or play, break it down, and analyze how characters are constructed, training your own instincts for making interesting choices quickly. The more scenes you work through, the sharper your ability to pick up a new piece of material and make strong choices on the spot.”
What Happens After the Cold Read
After a cold read, you are usually given directorial notes and then asked to reread or apply the same style and approach to reading the sides. Try not to focus too much on the aftermath of a cold read, it’s usually so the casting team can see if you take the note, and not because you’ve done anything wrong.
Casting directors will report to directors and showrunners with notes on an actor’s coachability, instinct and technical execution. You want positive feedback that you made bold choices, and adjusted immediately when redirected.
Most actors don’t get specific feedback after an audition, so you can expect much of the same after a cold read. Think about auditioning as always auditioning for the next job, echoing what casting director Lyndsey Baldasare says here: “Keep doing consistent work, and keep being a team player. It all factors in. I know some actors feel like they’re putting these tapes out and nobody’s watching them, but we are. You’re not gonna get 100% of the jobs you go out for, but if you’re good at what you do, people will find you.”
Conclusion
Cold reads might feel like an obstacle in the middle of the audition process you have to overcome. But they’re not there to catch you or throw you off. They’re used to evaluate you as an actor, to see how you operate in your process, without the time to overthink.
Casting directors are often the ones that want the actor to succeed in the audition, and David Rapaport is a key example of that: “To me, the opportunity to find people, to dig, to go through that process, that’s what keeps me hungry and motivated. I think I’m afraid I’m going to miss that one person who has that one thing that’s going to break out, and I’m not gonna be able to talk about them in an interview one day.”
When you understand the format of a cold read and how it works in the overall casting process, you focus less on the wrong thing. An actor that is better prepared for a cold read will generally do better in the room. Use skills that are unique to you, trust your instincts, and show casting what makes you the right actor for the role.
*More on ActOnCue:
ActOnCue is not designed to replace the magic of working with a human actor/partner. Real acting is about connection and authentic reaction, and nothing will ever change that. Our focus is on a different part of the process: the audition grind. The world of casting is a numbers game. It’s a funnel designed to quickly find a “role fit,” and so much of it is out of your control. Casting directors aren’t measuring how many hours you rehearsed; they’re looking for a match, often in the first few seconds of your self tape. That’s where ActOnCue comes in.
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