Body language is one of the first things people notice during a performance. Whether you’re on stage or in front of a camera, the way you carry yourself can say just as much as your lines. Through movement, posture, and facial expression, you’re telling part of the story that words alone can’t cover. But when your body sends the wrong signals, it can confuse the audience or weaken your character.

In acting classes across Los Angeles, it’s common for students to struggle with body movement. Sometimes gestures feel awkward. Other times, nerves take over and everything feels stiff or forced. These small issues can chip away at a strong performance. The good news is that most of these challenges can be fixed with the right techniques and habits. Here are some helpful ways to fix these common body language problems and bring more natural movement into your scenes.

Understand Your Physicality

Self-awareness is key in acting. The more you know about how your body naturally moves, the easier it is to shape it for each role. Many performers repeat the same motions out of habit. Maybe you’re always shifting your feet or tucking your hair behind your ear. These can become distractions if they don’t match your character.

To get a better sense of how you move, try this:

• Stand in front of a mirror and perform a short monologue. Watch for habits or repetitive gestures.
• Record yourself during rehearsals. Take notes on your posture, hand position, and facial movements.
• Ask for feedback from peers or coaches. They may notice something you’ve missed.

Improving your physicality starts with being honest about what you’re doing and why. Once you spot things that don’t serve the scene, you can start making small changes. An example might be someone who always crosses their arms when nervous. In rehearsal, they start experimenting with open hand gestures to invite more warmth into their scenes. Over time, those changes start to feel natural.

You don’t need big movements to make a character come alive. Simple, thoughtful adjustments can say a lot. Use your awareness to make sure every motion helps tell the story instead of competing with it.

Control Nervous Energy

Acting in front of others can spark anxiety, no matter how experienced you are. That tension often shows up in your body without you realizing it. Common signs include stiff shoulders, tapping feet, and unnatural pacing. Those habits can break the connection between your character and the audience.

What makes a big difference is learning how to manage that nervous energy so it works in your favor. Here are a few things that help:

• Deep breathing: Inhale slowly through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Repeat a few times before going on stage or performing in class.
• Grounding techniques: Place both feet firmly on the floor, close your eyes briefly, and focus on the feeling of stability. This helps calm shaking or fidgeting.
• Full-body warmups: Moving your body beforehand releases tension and helps you feel more in control once you’re performing.

It’s okay to feel nervous. Most actors do. The trick is learning how to redirect that buzz into something useful. When your energy feels focused, your movements can become stronger and more intentional.

Instead of trying to hide how nervous you are, work with it. Let it challenge you to stay in the moment. As your nerves settle, you’ll notice how much more natural and believable your body language becomes.

Practice Consistent Gestures

Uncontrolled or random gestures can easily distract from what you’re trying to say on stage or in front of the camera. You might think you’re adding energy to the scene, but if your hand moves have nothing to do with your character or emotion, they’ll probably confuse the viewer instead. Every movement should have a reason behind it, even if that reason is as simple as showing hesitation or excitement.

One common mistake is repeating the same motion no matter the scene. An actor might always point with one hand whenever they’re making a dramatic point, even if their character in that scene wouldn’t do that. Over time, these habits form a pattern that can undercut the truth of the moment. To break those habits, try focusing on intentional repetition.

Here are some quick ways to build stronger, more consistent gestures:

• Run lines while standing still. Notice which natural gestures appear and ask yourself if they fit your character.
• Practice scenes with different emotional tones using the same dialogue to explore new physical responses.
• Pair gesture with thought or emotion. If your character is recalling a memory, what subtle movement could support that?

Being intentional doesn’t mean stiff. It just means you’re making choices, not falling back on your normal ways of moving. Practice small changes first. Tighten up hand movements you might do out of habit or slow down fidgety finger tapping. Little details shape how believable your performance feels.

Use Facial Expressions Effectively

Your face can carry as much weight as your script. Every eyebrow raise, squint, or smirk helps communicate what’s beneath a line of dialogue. When done well, facial expressions add depth. When overdone, they pull focus away from the scene or feel fake.

A common trap actors fall into is overacting with their face, which usually happens when they’re trying to show an emotion rather than feel it. On the flip side, some actors under-express, especially on camera, where subtle reaction shots carry the scene. This is where balance is key.

To get better at facial control:

• Record yourself doing scenes with little to no dialogue and focus only on what your face is doing. Then review to see whether your expressions match the emotion you’re playing.
• Pause during rehearsals and replay how your face reacts to lines, especially emotional ones. Ask peers for feedback.
• Practice storytelling silently in front of a mirror. Pick an emotion and express it without using any words. See how many shades you can add.

Being expressive doesn’t mean exaggerating. It means using your face to highlight the truth of the moment. Think of your face as a tool for connection. The more connected you are to the material, the more naturally your expressions will fall into place.

Combine Movement With Dialogue

When your body and your words tell the same story, your message lands stronger. But mismatched timing between movement and lines is something many actors slip into, especially during early rehearsals. A character might be arguing passionately, but the actor shifts awkwardly or looks bored. That misalignment can make the performance feel disjointed.

This usually happens when actors learn blocking and memorization separately. They focus on lines first, then bolt on body movement later. To fix this, both elements should be practiced at the same time.

Try this approach:

• Choose a small scene, and keep it under one minute.
• Mark out basic movements or key gestures as you rehearse the lines.
• Repeat the scene with full attention on syncing words with motion.
• Ask a partner to point out any spots where the body language feels off from what you’re saying.

Matching movement to speech takes time, but it pays off. Once you’ve practiced enough, the shifts in your body won’t feel planned. They’ll just happen, flowing naturally with the scene.

Enhancing Your Acting Journey in LA

Improving body language takes more than one class or one set of notes. It’s about building habits that serve the role, not your nerves or instincts. Every gesture, every step, and every look on your face should support what you’re saying and help carry the story forward. Change won’t happen overnight, but choosing to stay focused on these areas will move you in the right direction.

When you’re surrounded by others in acting classes in LA who are working through the same struggles and practicing the same solutions, you’ll notice your progress picking up speed. Keep checking in on how your body speaks. When things start to click, when your movement, speech, and facial expressions all support each other, that’s when you know your performance is leaving the right mark.

To continue growing as an actor, the right environment makes a big difference. Join the vibrant community at Michelle Danner Acting Studio, where our engaging acting classes in LA help refine your skills and build your confidence. With expert guidance and a focus on each actor’s path, you’ll soon see your hard work pay off on stage or screen.