The Acting Mastery Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

When it comes to Shakespeare, John Bell is perhaps Australia’s most authoritative voice. He’s not only an acclaimed actor and director, but the founder of the Bell Shakespeare company, which has brought the works of Shakespeare to life for audiences across Australia, for over three decades. He’s been awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia, and an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for his outstanding contributions to the arts. John was involved in the early days of 2 of Australia’s most seminal theatre companies: The Old Tote Theatre Company (now known as The Sydney Theatre Company), and the Nimrod Theatre Company (now known as Belvoir St Theatre. With a career spanning more than 60 years, John has played some of Shakespeare's most iconic roles, and has directed countless productions that left an indelible mark on Australia’s theatrical world.

In this episode, we explore John’s deep connection with Shakespeare, his insights on acting and directing, and the lessons he’s learnt through his long, illustrious career. John also shares his invaluable advice to young actors starting out today.

We're honoured to have Scott Williams as our guest for this episode! Scott is the founder of The Impulse Company International, and one of London’s leading Meisner Technique teachers. Scott has been teaching and directing around the world for over 40 years. He trained with Sanford Meisner himself at The Neighbourhood Playhouse in New York, and with the renowned director William Ball, at The American Conservatory Theatre.

In this episode, we explore what Meisner training offers, and what it means to live truthfully, moment to moment, in a state of aliveness.

Join us for an inspiring episode with Ainslie Clouston, the creative force behind the series ‘Paper Dolls,’ now streaming on Netflix. Recorded live at our Industry Talk Night, Ainslie shares her journey from beginning her career as an actor in series like ‘Diary of an Uber Driver’, ‘Winter’, and ‘BedHead’ (directed by Ben Mathews) to making a pact with herself early on to earn her living solely through the entertainment industry. This resolve led her to explore and excel in various roles, from casting to directing and writing. Her web series ‘600 Bottles of Wine’ which she made with her best friend writer and actor Grace Rouvray, was picked up by the BBC, Netflix and Network 10. Since then she found success writing for various series such as ‘Playing for Keeps,’ ‘My Life is Murder,’ ‘Amazing Grace’ and eventually creating ‘Paper Doll,’ a compelling drama about the rise and fall of a fictional girl group in the early 2000s.This episode is packed with practical advice on staying open and adaptable, creating and leveraging opportunities, and navigating your own path in the entertainment world.

Todays Episode was recorded live during one of our industry talk nights at the Acting Mastery Studio in Bondi Junction.

Sonya shares invaluable insights into the evolving landscape of talent management, the importance of fostering genuine relationships in the industry and what it takes to thrive as an actor in todays competitive environment.

We have the honour of hosting Miranda Harcourt, one of the most sought after acting coaches in the industry. Miranda's clients have won and been nominated for multiple Oscars, Golden Globes, Emmys, BAFTAs and AACTAs, including a 2022 Golden Globe win and a 2022 Academy Award nomination. Miranda not only supports and coaches stars at the highest level, but also guides emerging talents into stellar careers. The tools, exercises, and approaches that Miranda has developed are implemented in rehearsal rooms and on sets all around the world. Miranda’s specialty is screen naturalism, and through her work, she aims to shift paradigms, empowering creatives to realise their own talent.

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On our debut episode, we dive deep into the world of film and performance with the exceptionally talented Kim Farrant, a director and acting coach known for her unique ability to draw out raw, powerful performances from her actors.
In this episode, we explore the intricacies of acting and directing, Kim's journey through the film industry, and her deep insights into the work.

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Brenden Rodriguez and Daniel Schwab are making a name for themselves in the world of casting, having worked alongside Robert Ulrich at Ulrich/Dawson/Kritzer Casting, one of the top casting offices in Los Angeles. Their casting track record so far includes working on major TV projects like Netflix’s ‘The Perfect Couple’, Amazon Prime’s darkly comic superhero hit, ‘THE BOYS’, and its spin-off, ‘GEN V’, ‘Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist’ for NBC, and ‘Monarch’ for FOX. Shooting has recently wrapped on the feature film 'THE SURRENDER' that Brenden and Daniel also co-produced, starring Colby Minifie (‘THE BOYS’) and Kate Burton (‘Grey’s Anatomy’).In this episode, Brenden and Daniel share their insights into the casting process, their experiences in the industry, and offer practical advice for actors who are looking to make their mark.

Steve Kaplan has been called the comedy guru for good reason. He's an esteemed comedy consultant, author and instructor who works with major studios like HBO, Disney, DreamWorks and others, helping writers, directors, producers, and actors, enhance the comedic elements of their work. He's also the author of two highly regarded books, ‘The Hidden Tools of Comedy: The Serious Business of Being Funny’, and ‘The Comic Hero's Journey’.

In this episode, we delve into the mechanics of comedy, discuss Steve's unique approach and his ideas, and explore how these insights can be applied to your own acting, writing, and directing careers. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, this conversation is packed with valuable lessons that will change the way you think about comedy.

Damon Herriman is one of Australia's most versatile and respected actors, with a career spanning over decades across film, television and theatre. Known for his chameleon-like ability to fully inhabit a wide range of characters. Damon has captivated audiences with performances in critically acclaimed projects, such as his chilling portrayal as Charles Manson in both Quentin Tarantino's ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ and David Fincher's Netflix series ‘Mindhunter’. Damon's most recent films include the upcoming Robbie Williams biopic ‘Better Man’ from ‘The Greatest Showman’ director Michael Gracey, and ‘The Bike Riders’, directed by Jeff Nichols, where he starred alongside Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, Tom Hardy and Michael Shannon. 

His extensive body of work also includes roles in major productions like Clint Eastwood's ‘J. Edgar’ opposite Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe's ‘The Water Diviner’, and Oscar winner Barry Jenkins' ‘The Underground Railroad’. Damon also worked with David Mamet three times, including in one instance opposite Al Pacino. Other amazing credits include ‘Breaking Bad’, the Aussie hitman series ‘Mr. In Between’, and recently the Disney series, ‘The Artful Dodger’. His IMDb lists at present 119 acting credits. He's won or been nominated for over 35 awards. An actor who learned his craft on the job, Damon continues to push the boundaries of his work, making him truly a compelling figure in the world of acting.

In this episode, we dive deep into Damon's journey, exploring some pivotal moments that shaped his career, his approach to the craft, and lessons he's learned from decades of experience working with some of the most renowned directors and actors in the world.

We are honoured to share one of the most transformative conversations we’ve had in recent memory with one of the world's most in-demand acting coaches, Gerry Grennell. 

If you’ve watched the ‘I Am Heath Ledger’ documentary, you would be familiar with Gerry’s name, and learned about the extraordinary collaboration between Gerry and Heath on some of Heath's most iconic roles, including his Oscar-winning portrayal as the Joker in Christopher Nolan's ‘The Dark Knight’. 

Gerry Grennell has quietly become one of the most in-demand acting coaches in the world, and his client list reads like a who's who of Hollywood royalty: Heath Ledger, Meryl Streep, Marlon Brando, Johnny Depp, Tom Cruise, Natalie Portman, Matt Damon, Pedro Pascal, Bruce Willis, Oscar Isaac, Joel Edgerton, Sean Penn, Anne Hathaway, and many more. 

With a background in Alexander Technique and voice, Gerry trained at the prestigious Central School of Speech and Drama in London, and went on to co-found the Bow Street Academy in Dublin, Ireland. 

What was initially meant to be a 90-minute interview turned into a 2.5hr journey of philosophies and profound insights, particularly on the subject of ownership and authorship for actors. This interview is so full of ‘aha’ moments, and we hope it resonates with our listeners as much as it has for us.