Imagine walking into an audition and being handed a script you’ve never seen before, and then the casting director asks you to perform it with only minutes to prepare. That potentially sweat-inducing, heart-racing concept is known as a cold read.
For those new to acting you may have heard of the dreaded phenomenon but not yet encountered it. Or perhaps you have experienced it and you’re looking to develop your cold-reading technique for future auditions. Either way, this guide will walk you through exactly what a cold read is, when you may be asked to deliver one, and some tips and tricks for handling cold reads with ease.
Cold reading in acting refers to being given a section of script to perform that you have not previously seen or read. The most common place you’ll encounter cold reading as an actor is in an audition, where you will be provided with sides or a scene, expected to familiarise yourself with it in a short time frame, and then asked to perform it.
Commercial castings in particular often require actors to deliver cold reads, for which the script is only provided in the audition waiting room. Generally with theatre, TV, and film auditions, actors are provided with the script or sides to prepare in advance. It’s still possible, however, that you could be asked to deliver a cold read in those scenarios. It could happen if the casting team wants to see you read for another role, or perhaps they want to see how you tackle text you’ve never seen before. You may also be asked to deliver a cold read on set for a film or TV job if a scene you are in has been rewritten overnight.
In every instance, cold reading involves performing totally new material that you may have had very little time with. Being able to deliver a strong cold read shows the casting director and director that you are an actor who can quickly grasp a character and make bold, committed choices under pressure.
1. Relax and breathe.
Being handed a new piece of material to perform in an already high-adrenaline situation such as an audition can spike your cortisol. Allow yourself a moment to take a few deep breaths before you begin to read the new sides or scenes. Focus on making your exhale longer than your inhale. Feel the floor beneath your feet or your bones in your chair, and then imagine roots growing downward as a way to ground yourself. You’ve got this.
2. Gather key information.
In most cold-read cases, you’ll have a few minutes to read the sides or scenes before performing them. Skim read the script to gather key information, including:
- Where is the scene set?
- What information do you have about your character?
- Who are they talking to and what are the emotional stakes of the scene?
Then, if you have time, read the scene again to pick out further details.
3. Trust your instincts and commit to your choices.
One of the most important aspects of nailing a cold read is to “trust your instincts,” says acting coach and director Jim Rastall. He advises thinking of it “less as a cold read and more of a hot take.” Your performance will be so much stronger and freer if you “back yourself, committing 100% to your choices rather than trying to get it right.… Trust the reality and the truth of the moment.” A confident actor follows their instincts, knowing that the director or casting director will always redirect them later if necessary.
4. Connect with your scene partner.
Acting is reacting, so another crucial element of a successful cold read is establishing and maintaining contact with your scene partner. When they are talking, look at them. Actively listen to what they are saying, let it impact you, and respond from there. Rastall advises actors to “wait until your scene partner has finished speaking to you” before looking down at your script to get your next line, because it will help you to “prioritise connection.” It will serve you and the scene far better than dropping your head to find your next line, losing that all-important connection whilst they are still speaking to you.
5. Use your thumb to keep your place.
This can be a useful way to keep track of where you’re up to in the script, allowing you to look up and make that all-important connection with your scene partner without worrying about losing your place. If you have dyslexia, it’s also worth taking a highlighter along to auditions and asking if you can highlight the script to help lift your lines off the page more easily.
6. Stay in the moment.
Naturally, you’ll be glancing up and down as you recite your lines, but don’t let it pull you out of the scene and the truth of the moment. Stay present in the performance as you lift your lines from the page, and then look up to deliver them. The more present – and rooted in the emotional truth – you are, the more alive your cold read will be.
7. Practise the skill.
The material in a cold read will be new to you, but you can practise and develop your sight-reading skills at home so it’s less daunting during an audition. Grab a script and a friend, and then, using the tips above, practise delivering your cold read. The more you familiarise yourself with making quick, bold decisions and trusting your instincts in a scene, the less stressful it will be to cold read during an audition or on a job.
The idea of a cold read may sound daunting, but with practice and these tips it should start to feel more comfortable – and it may even become something you look forward to doing when you attend an open casting call. There’s a certain excitement that comes from the spontaneity of a cold read, so lean into the experience of connecting with your scene partner and following your raw emotional instincts without overintellectualising it!