From Superhero to Junkie

How do you prepare for an audition for a role that is so completely the opposite of who you are. I'm auditioning for a film student to come into their class and rehearse scenes from the film "Magnolia." I'm auditioning for Claudia, a disturbed woman who has a serious drug problem and who is completely high and a mess in the scene. How do I even begin to play a junkie? I am reluctant to go back and watch the actual film. Help!? thanks!

Well, I’m going to steal an answer from Jack Plotnick – not verbatim, but what I remember of what he says on his website. (More on Jack in a minute.)

Remember when you were a kid, and you pretended to be a superhero? You didn’t go all method actor, you grabbed a towel and used it as a cape and ran around jumping off furniture and you were a superhero! You know what a superhero is, you know how to play superhero. (www.jackplotnick.com)

So now you get to play junkie! Ah, how times change as we grow up. Look, I figure you’ve been hung over, right? Most likely? I’d start there and go with that. I also happen to know that you smoke, right? Uh-huh, you do. So don’t pretend like you have to research addiction. Any time you’re down to your last cigarette you’re thinking about buying your next pack.

It’s only as hard as we make it. Run out there and play.

Well, I’m back to memorizing lines for my existential hell! Enjoy your day!