To portray a character, the actor needs craft; to fully express him or herself in the character, the actor needs talent. Combining the two is what makes a great actor, and here, Christopher Vened guides the actor, step by step, in how to explore and develop the character in all its aspects. In this concise manual, Vened describes the necessary methods, principles, directions, exercises, and examples needed for the mastery of the actor's craft and art of portraying character, and offers guidance on such topics as conflict, internal and external circumstances of a character, thought patterns, and character traits in the body. This book is a major exploration of a major part of the actor's job.