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I saw that clip of Meryl Streep walking into Fashion Week in full character and it reminded me of something every actor needs to hear: you can’t build a believable character if you only rehearse them in safe spaces.
When you take a character into the real world, everything changes.
I learned this myself. Before a role, I made myself walk into the most expensive dealership I could find and ask to test drive a car... in character. And let me tell you… nothing will expose the truth of your choices faster than trying to hold your face, your posture, your energy when you are deeply uncomfortable and everyone in the room is looking at you like, “Who is she?”
You learn how people treat you.
Do they look up to you?
Do they look down on you?
Do they soften? Tighten? Shift?
All those reactions, the real ones, become details you could never invent. They feed the character’s inner life in ways that are priceless.
This is why Meryl does Fashion Week in character. Because your character isn’t real until they’ve lived somewhere that isn’t a set.
And then there’s wardrobe.
When you take your costume, or even just one bold piece of it, into public, it forces choices that read instantly. You’re no longer thinking about the character… you’re wearing them. People respond to what they see, and their responses help you refine what the character projects.
You won’t always be number one on the call sheet.
But you can always show up like you are.
Wardrobe helps. Environment helps. Real people help.
So save this:
When you’re building your next role, take your character off the page and into the world.
And let me know… where will you take your character first?
See you on the inside,
Nicki Micheaux
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