Unlocking Confidence On Camera: Using Uta Hagen's Nine Questions for Child Actor Audition Success

Helping your young performer achieve their dreams in TV and film starts with solid preparation and confidence. The legendary acting teacher Uta Hagen developed nine insightful questions to help actors of any age find truth in their performances. Here's how parents can use these as a powerful tool to help child actors prepare for auditions and find success:

1. Who am I?

This goes beyond learning lines—it's about understanding the character's personality, likes, dislikes, and what makes them tick. Have your child actor create a "character bio" answering these deeper questions about their role.

2. What time is it?

Period pieces, specific time of day, or even the emotional atmosphere of the scene all impact a character. Help your young performer imagine the time frame and how it makes their character feel.

3. Where am I?

A courtroom feels different from a playground! Have your child think about the location and how it might physically affect their character's behavior and movements.

4. What surrounds me?

Props and set details can be acting tools. Encourage your child to play with props (even imaginary ones at home) to work them into the scene organically.

5. What are the given circumstances?

What happened right before this scene? What might happen next? Understanding the character's broader story helps ground the scene in reality for your child.

6. What is my relationship?

How does the character feel about the other people in the scene? Friendly? Scared? Annoyed? This impacts every interaction, even subtly.

7. What do I want?

Every character has a goal, big or small, in each scene they're in. Have your child identify this and let it drive their choices.

8. What is in my way?

Conflict creates drama! Talk about any obstacles to the character getting what they want, and how those obstacles create believable reactions.

9. What do I do to get what I want?

This is where strategy comes in. How will the character try to overcome obstacles? Practice different tactics to make choices feel fresh.

Practical Application

• Character Journal: Create a special notebook or document where your child can answer these questions for each role.

• Rehearse with Purpose: Instead of just reading lines, use the questions to explore the scene with your young actor. This goes a long way in building comfort with the material.

Beyond Acting

Deep character work is a confidence builder that goes beyond the self-tape or audition room. It helps child actors develop empathy, understand emotions, and express themselves more clearly. Hagen's questions are tools for navigating fictional worlds, but they also help young actors better understand the real one.