acting

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Watching the film Persona (which I didn't like but that's beside the point), about an actress that becomes sort of hysterical because her life is too full of acting rather than being herself, I could totally relate, as all my social interaction is like an act - of course, that's true of everyone to some extent, but the point is that most people just have to do ordinary politeness, I have to do ordinary politeness and pretend I have fun at social situations, pretend I care, pretend that I'm a normal human being just to get some companionship, which helps me ward off depression. But I fool no one in the end, so I remain an outsider, not really accepted by any group, with no real friends, no partner, and little hope of changing any of this. It isn't even that people dislike me, they just see me as an outsider, and actually think I'm an outsider by choice. I don't even know who I really am anymore.
anyone relates?

Ok, to sadly quote Rush...We all play this game. It sucks, I agree. We all pretend to be cordial and polite. It is civil. The reality is some play better than others. I know AS has a hard time firguring out when people are being sneaky, but so do NTs. We just play by these ungodly rules to srivive.

Ok, to sadly quote Rush...We all play this game. It sucks, I agree. We all pretend to be cordial and polite. It is civil. The reality is some people play better than others. I know AS has a hard time firguring out when people are being sneaky, but so do NTs. We just play by these ungodly rules to survive.


Living on a lighted stage
Approaches the unreal
For those who think and feel
In touch with some reality
Beyond the gilded cage

Cast in this unlikely role,
Ill-equipped to act
With insufficient tact
One must put up barriers
To keep oneself intact

Living in the limelight
The universal dream
For those who wish to seem

Those who wish to be
Must put aside the alienation
Get on with the fascination
The real relation
The underlying theme

Living in a fisheye lens
Caught in the camera eye
I have no heart to lie
I cant pretend a stranger
Is a long-awaited friend

All the worlds indeed a stage
And we are merely players
Performers and portrayers
Each anothers audience
Outside the gilded cage

Does anyone think that an Aspie could be a god actor/actress?

of course!

Well I have often picked out someone from childhood and acted how I think they would when I didn't know what to do, always an adult person and how they would say hello to someone, only thing wrong with it is once saying hello is all done, I have often not known what to do next. Its much better now I am older because I have had lots of practice at socialising but years ago, I just picked things from my mind that I thought might fit. I wouldn't be able to do that now because my social situation has people that are very unlike those I was brought up with so its a bit hit and miss at times now.

"Acting is the shy man's revenge."

As shy and introveerted as I am, I feel I could do really well at acting. I did take a class in college and enjoyed it. I think there is somethign to be said for someone like myself who might flourish in such a setting. The weird thing is, I feel more comroftable socially and can really bring out my personality and feel confident when I'm ACTING. IF I know somethign is for play and not real, I can be more relaxed. Thats what I sort of experienced. Lets say I was suppoed to go to an interview or pick up a girl or whatever, I would be nervous not knowinfg what to say or do. But when placed in a controlled setting, such as performing an act, I can better handle my presentations. At any rate, if one apporaches social interaction as an act, then it can be more easy to communicate.

I decided to pursue my interest in acting, rather than something that would be more natural to me like computer science. I've been attracted to it for the very reasons you stated- along with a love of story-telling. It does mean that I have even more difficulty relating to my peers though, as most people go into that field because they are social and like attention. I've always been the first one after a show to run to the dressing rooms, scrub my make-up off and disappear from the theater, while the others hover around receiving congratulations. But once the audience has the chance to see you as yourself and talk to you, it's just so much more difficult than the safety of performing a role.

I only ever have a clue what to do socially when I am acting like someone else. I can't contemplate being myself in a social situation as that part of me is just not there.

I did this a lot when I was younger, but increasingly I just lack the ability or stamina to "fake it" (act) anymore. It's all I can do now to make eye contact and try to look normal in any given situation... never mind friendliness or being able to manage interesting spoken conversations (I am better in writing...).

There was a point in my life, approximately age 14-23, where I would intentionally imitate people I thought were socially admirable-- their voice, mannerisms, intonation. Of course I usually ended up making a fool of myself, and it led to my being confused about my identity. I don't mean in any "multiple personality" sense, just that I didn't even know how to be ME anymore or who ME really was. The real me is extremely quiet, serious, and literal, but I felt/ feel so much social pressure not to act like this, to try to muster up a casual sense of humor, and to laugh at things I don't fund funny, or not to be offended by things I find disgusting or low, that I feel like someone lost in a maze.

I relate with you guys.

In my adolescent years and still slightly to this day, I found myself imitating a well respected frined who seemed smart and socially cool. I too had begun to act like him in many ways. Mannerisms, expressions, most things which were seemingly blank from my identity. I'd hear ppl say we were ver yalike, when deep down i thouht maybe becaseu I consciously act like this person.

As time has gone on, Ive become more of my own person, but I too defiantely mimicked others personality so that I wold have one myself.

I was obsessed with the notion of becoming an actress when I was younger...I would memorise and recite the same monologues over and over..i was often told I overacted and would get made fun of after indiscriminantly reciting my monologues to the wrong people

....I went to auditions, and often got some interest in me from the directors...but always "not quite right" for the part...who wants an akward, overweight little girl who easily makes the audience laugh to play Flora in Turn of the Screw?.

...I took speech and drama classes in school (jr. High through high)...placed honorable mention in a few speech/acting tournaments.....um......was in a few plays in High School....every drama teacher I ever had thought I was really strange, but had "something"..

I had wanted to go to HSPVA (high school for the performing and visual arts)...but my grades were too low, even though I had several teachers pulling for me..as it was kinda the one thing I really excelled in...

Anywhoo...i am kinda over it now....veered more off into music...for many years was in a working band...and several other projects after that...nowI have my funny stage performance/akward/musical acts that I do...and that is about it.

I'm an Aspie, and I'm a good actor. I did a little bit of professional acting in the 90's, as well as amateur theatre before and since. I've always felt very comfortable on stage, very confident and in control, in a way that I rarely feel in day-to day unscripted situations. I have stage fright beforehand, but once I'm on stage, I feel right at home.

Is it really so unusual for auties or Aspie to be actors?

I was a trained actor and have performed in summer stock. I am also a ventriloquist:

www.markfoster.us

I believe many of today's famous entertainers and actors are very likely (though undiagnosed) Aspies. Off the top of my head I can think of a number of my favourite actors who display very Aspie tendencies in many of thier roles - in fact this 'Aspie-ness' may even be why I like them so much. Whether it is that they are indeed Aspies or simply that their characters are written in such a way as to appear Aspie to me, I know not, but in those actors that it appears across several roles I like to think that the 'Aspie-ness' is a bit of the actor's own personality showing through.

For example (and feel free to disagree with me; these are merely unfounded opinions) - Rove McManus, Bill Nighy, Matthew MacFadyen, Hugh Laurie(though I think it's just the writing of his character 'House' which makes me think this). Those are a few that stand out off the top of my head, but they should be enough to provide food for thought.

In my case no, because I can't do the body language!

When I've been in shows before, I never know how to stand or how to interact with the other actors, & look & feel totally awkward. !(I'd make a fine radio actress through!)