The Power of Laughter: Keeping the Joy in Your Acting Journey

I have a friend, Craige - the E is silent - with whom I will immediately be in fits of laughter within literal seconds of seeing him. I recently visited him in Toronto where he was doing a pre-West End run of his show and spending time with him highlighted that I hadn't been laughing as much as I’d like recently. Laughing is important! 

In the world of acting, where vulnerability and emotional depth are part of the job description, it’s easy to fall into the trap of taking everything - yourself, your work, your career - very seriously. And while commitment and discipline are essential, laughter is vital and often gets overlooked.

Laughter is a powerful reminder that we are human beings first and artists second. It grounds us. It softens the edges. It gives us perspective. In an industry with so much rejection, uncertainty, and high stakes, laughter is not just a break - it’s a form of resilience. It allows you to exhale, let go, and reconnect with the joy that likely drew you to acting in the first place.

One of the greatest gifts laughter offers is the invitation to play. As actors, our job is rooted in make-believe, in imagination, in exploring what it means to be human. When you approach your work with a sense of play, you give yourself permission to take risks, to try new things, to fail gloriously - and learn from it. That spirit of experimentation is where breakthroughs happen. It’s where magic lives. In my Wednesday night class last week, one of the actors was singing her lines, then rapping her lines, then yelling her lines and she was very game to play which helped us access more of her in her work. 

Maintaining a sense of humor also helps to keep the ego in check. Let’s face it - actors; we can be intense. That passion is beautiful, but when it turns into pressure or perfectionism, it can block your creativity. Laughing at yourself, at the absurdity of the industry, or even at a bad audition, brings humility and lightness back into the room. It reminds you that you don’t have to be perfect; you just have to be present.

Taking your career seriously doesn’t mean you have to take yourself too seriously. In fact, the most compelling actors are often those who balance dedication with curiosity and play. They work hard, yes, but they also know how to let go and enjoy the ride.

So next time you’re feeling stuck or overly self-critical, try laughing - at yourself, with your castmates, classmates or even for no reason at all. Your inner child, your creative spirit, and your audience will thank you.

Because at the heart of it all, storytelling is meant to be shared, felt, and enjoyed. And laughter? That’s the most human sound there is.

Keep up the great work.

Mark :)