Playing the bad guy can be fun because it has complex emotions and requires a certain nuance to not appear like a caricature. However, it takes extra effort to successfully portray a bad character because it's hard to become an unlikable character. By developing a bad person's mindset and practicing body language, you can become an antagonist that will stick in your audience's memory!
Step
Part 1 of 3: Entering the Criminal Mindset
Step 1. Decide what type of villain to play
Look at the character and pay attention to the type of antagonist. Is he a psychopath like Hannibal or a level-headed planner who is always one step ahead of the protagonist, like John Doe? The villain's personality will help you develop specific characteristics for this role.
- Some examples of villain archetypes are good people turn bad like Two-Face, planners like John Doe, or people who enjoy hurting others like Jigsaw.
- Do medical research if the villain has a particular pathology so you can better understand how the character behaves.
Step 2. Explore the villain's backstory to understand his anger
Don't let yourself act angry on stage without knowing where it came from. Find the part of the backstory that was the source of the antagonist's anger and justified his anger at the time. From there, you can fully demonstrate how far the villain can go to get what he wants.
- Consider using revenge or past trauma as a motive for his anger or behavior. The character Syndrome from The Incredibles became a villain because Mr. Incredible says he can't be a hero. Always think of the character's backstory as the heart of every decision he makes.
- Characters who are angry just because they can won't make believable and overly generic villains.
- Do not immediately show the full anger of the villain. Show restraint until the climactic moment to make the villain appear more terrifying and memorable.
Step 3. Empathize with the decisions criminals make
Think about the reasons the criminal did what he did. Is it to protect family, seek honor, want to be rich, or is it just a bad nature? Whatever the criminal's decision, look at it from his point of view to determine what prompted him to make the decision he chose.
- Remember that the villain is the hero of the story itself. Your criminal must believe that his actions are in his best interest.
- Don't always adopt this mindset while entering the role so that it doesn't affect your relationship.
Step 4. Look for the redeeming quality
Even the best protagonists and the worst antagonists have flaws and human aspects to their lives. Discover what your character cares about most when it comes to his mindset to add depth to the emotions of antagonists and more than just bad guys.
- Think if the antagonist has a family he wants to protect or tries to save the world by destroying it. Make the audience empathize with the choice.
- Showing criminals who have a wide range of emotions will make the audience understand your actions better. They can even turn their backs on you!
Step 5. Have a sneaky sense of humor
Develop a sense of dark humor like the Joker, especially if you play a more comedic antagonist. Find funny things that are considered terrible to others. Humor will make the villain easier to understand and easier for the audience to like.
Part 2 of 3: Finding Inspiration
Step 1. Watch how the actor plays the bad guy
Look for movies or television shows that have a villain similar to the character you will be playing. Pay attention to the facial expressions of the actor, listen to the way he talks, and pay attention to all the little movements his body makes. Observe how the actor plays the bad guy to help shape your appearance.
Step 2. Study real criminals and criminals to ground the characters in real life
Look for the crimes your antagonists committed and see if there is a connection in the real world. Watch videos of suspects or people found guilty of crimes to see how they react. Read books that deal with real crime to get character ideas and apply them to the villain you play.
Many modern characters are based on real people and actual crimes
Step 3. Write entries in the journal as your character to role play
Write a minimum of 10-15 minutes per day in a notebook or journal that you only use for characters. Start by introducing your character directly, then tell him his back story, his feelings, and answer any questions you may have about your character.
- Only write as your character and avoid writing as yourself.
- Dig deeper into the character, for example about what he is afraid of or the relationship he is in. This helps to be more motivated for the character and you will understand it on a deeper level so that you can play it better
Part 3 of 3: Perfecting Appearance
Step 1. Find a voice that fits your role
Once you've determined your antagonist's personality, find a voice that matches him. Evil plotters usually speak slowly and deeply to show a sense of power, while serial killers tend to speak casually to blend in with society. Consider the character's history and backstory when trying out different voices.
- If you want classic movie villains like Hans Gruber from Die Hard or Hannibal Lecter from The Silence of the Lambs, speak with a British accent.
- Sometimes, high-pitched sounds can sound scarier than deep ones. Practice your voice range and make sure you can convey a lot of emotion using the voice you choose.
- Try an evil laugh if it fits the character. Don't overuse evil laughter unless your evil character is very generic.
Step 2. Stand with good posture and confident body language
Criminals must exude an air of confidence because they are used to committing crimes. Straighten your back and stand straight. Raise your chin to look down on the other person and always maintain eye contact. When moving, do it slowly and freely so you don't look nervous.
- Try not to touch your face or neck as this could indicate that the criminal is feeling scared or weak.
- Adjust the individual traits of the villain played and make sure it fits the history of the antagonist character.
Step 3. Keep your fingers crossed when you speak
Hold both hands in front of you and touch the fingertips of one hand with the fingertips of the other. Stabbing or kicking your fingers while you talk will make you appear more intimidating, especially when you talk.
Towering your fingers is a traditional way of showing evil, so if you overdo it it will seem generic
Step 4. Practice the evil smile
You have to have an evil grin and laugh if you're playing a classic bad guy. Practice smiling evilly in the mirror and determine if your character is better suited to showing their teeth or keeping them out of sight.
- A criminal's grin shows that he is happy for the crime he has committed, and can raise the hairs of one's neck.
- Watch how Norman Bates smiles in Psycho or the way Jack Torrance grins in The Shining.
