Table of Contents
- 9 Best Online Acting Classes 2021
- 1. Masterclass: Natalie Portman Teaches Acting
- 2. Masterclass: Samuel L. Jackson Teaches Acting
- 3. Skillshare: Acting Techniques Masterclass
- 4. Stage Milk Drama School
- 5. Udemy: A Comprehensive Guide to Child Acting
- 6. Udemy: Acting 101 for Adults
- 7. Udemy: How I booked 8 Acting Roles on Major TV Shows in a Year
- 8. Udemy: How to Book Acting Jobs
- 9. Udemy: Professional 10 Hour Acting MASTERCLASS
Ever thought of taking an online acting class? So many people dream of a career as an actor; however, it takes hard work, dedication, and talent to achieve that dream. Sometimes you’re born with that star quality, but often you have to build your star quality step-by-step with time and effort.
This set of the best online acting classes in 2021 will benefit you in many ways, including gaining confidence, learning acting exercises and techniques, and understanding the industry.
9 Best Online Acting Classes 2021
1. Masterclass: Natalie Portman Teaches Acting
In this masterclass, Natalie Portman shares her impressive repertoire of acting techniques that have made her the kind of actress she is today. Through this masterclass, you can learn how she pushed herself to the top and joined the select few regarded as Oscar winners.
Making it in Hollywood can be challenging, and Natalie will teach you how to handle feelings of vulnerability and self-consciousness, which may help you shine your acting career. Using “Jackie” and “Black Swan” as case studies, Natalie will discuss her preparation process and give you tips on researching your role.
The lessons in this course also include working on the set, performing on camera, working with directors, improvisation, playing an actual character/historical figure, working with the set, props, and camera, green screen acting, advice for actors, and active empathy.
For a genuinely in-depth acting class from an Oscar-winning actress, you can’t go past this one.
Why this online acting class?
- Comprehensive course content: 20 well-detailed 12-minute video lectures
- Great for all levels
- High rating: 4.5 stars
- Includes a great class workbook
2. Masterclass: Samuel L. Jackson Teaches Acting
Everyone knows Samuel L. Jackson, including you, right? Even if you are not a big fan of his work yet, you will get to learn a lot from this course. You’ll get to meet “Sam,” the acting coach who has several years’ worth of industry experience, acting expertise, and personal anecdotes that you will find exciting.
Sam breaks down his acting methodology and the nuances of his characterization process using scenes from The Caveman’s Valentine as a case study. He also teaches you how to break down a script in the same detailed manner, using the iconic diner scene from Pulp Fiction as a case study.
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Other topics covered in this acting Masterclass include voice and character, plumbing your emotional depths, using your body, on-set collaboration, making bold choices, working with directors, enriching your acting practice, growing your acting career, auditioning, and Hollywood lessons.
So, are you looking to learn from one of the best actors of the 20th and 21st centuries? If yes, this is the acting class for you!
Why this online acting class?
- Comprehensive course content: 21 well-detailed 12-minute video lectures
- Great for all levels
- High rating: 4.5 stars
- Course includes a downloadable class workbook featuring lesson recaps, assignments, and supplemental material
3. Skillshare: Acting Techniques Masterclass
Acting is more than just being able to stand in front of a camera and project confidence. It also requires a lot of hard work and practice to make it in your acting career, and it helps to know some reliable acting techniques that you can count on throughout your acting career.
Just some of the nine techniques covered in this online acting class include the Stanislavski Technique, Strasberg Method, Meisner Technique, the Uta Hagen Technique, and the Adler Technique.
Generally, this is one of the best online acting courses you can take if you are interested in learning tried and true acting techniques that can be useful to you in your acting career. In addition, any casting director will be impressed by your depth of knowledge and versatile acting abilities!
Why this online acting class?
- Low time commitment: 13 lessons, 40mins
- Beginner-friendly – great for any aspiring actor!
- Great class project with the opportunity to practice the Meisner technique
4. Stage Milk Drama School
This comprehensive 8-week program offers you vigorous coaching alongside learning materials and invaluable insight into the world of acting. Although it is an online course, you will receive personal feedback from instructors invested in your success.
The course is structured into eight modules (one per week) into the following topics: week 1 – discovery week, week 2 – voice, week 3 – movement, week 4 – Shakespeare, week 5 – plays, week 6 – script work, week 7 – screen, and week 8 – landing roles.
For this course, you will have more than one teacher, making it one of the best online acting classes. In addition, various experts will teach you in a specific aspect of acting, such as agents, showreel producers, Shakespeare experts, movement and voice coaches, and casting directors.
Why this online acting class?
- Discover other like-minded actors enrolled in the course
- User-friendly course platform
- Highly positive student feedback
- The first six courses offered by Stage Milk Drama School sold out (there is now a waitlist), which affirms the quality of the course
5. Udemy: A Comprehensive Guide to Child Acting
Being a child actor can be very challenging. This course helps teach you how to cope with industry expectations and hone your skills, which you can leverage to shine like a star at auditions.
The 15 lectures in this course deal with different aspects of the industry, including branding; preparing commercially for an audition; audition preparation and character analysis; audition process; agents and managers; unions; picking a monologue, and giving a monologue.
It is an excellent course for parents of child actors to learn what they need to do to assist their child in the acting industry. It also teaches you how to handle the business side of things when it comes to agents, managers, and unions.
Why this online acting class?
- Extensive content: 15 lectures, 7hrs49mins
- Geared precisely towards child actors or parents of child actors
- High rating: 4.5 stars
- Lifetime access to course content
- Includes a course completion certificate
6. Udemy: Acting 101 for Adults
Next on the list is another standout Udemy course that will give you an excellent overview of the whole acting process, including familiarizing yourself with the basics of the acting industry. Also, you will learn how to market yourself and put your best foot forward during auditioning.
The 17 lectures in this course cover topics, such as your acting toolbox, knowing your type and marketability, agents and managers, audition preparation, basic slating, commercial auditioning, preparing a monologue, casting, and what to do after getting an acting job.
Once you are complete the Udemy classes, you will get a certificate of completion and lifetime access to learning materials.
Why this online acting class?
- Another Bestseller on Udemy!
- 4.4-star rating
- Lots of content: 17 lectures, 6hrs52mins
- Lifetime access to course content
- Includes a course completion certificate
7. Udemy: How I booked 8 Acting Roles on Major TV Shows in a Year
This course stands out as the instructor, Brennan Taylor, is not here to teach you how to act. Instead, he teaches actors how to book jobs successfully and consistently. If you are tired of sporadic rounds of work, this course can help you get on a roll when acquiring gigs.
Brennan shares his journey with you and explains how he came to develop his sure-fire techniques for success. Sometimes it can be beneficial to hear from someone who has insight into the workings of the industry.
The lessons in Brennan’s class cover the following: the basic of an excellent headshot; agents and managers; your resume; your demo reel; online image; what to do and what not to do in the audition room; using the camera; taking direction; and creating your network.
Why this online acting class?
- Very high 4.6-star rating
- Popular: 1,665 students
- Good amount of content: 15 lectures, 2hrs
- Lifetime access to course content
- Includes a course completion certificate
8. Udemy: How to Book Acting Jobs
An essential thing about becoming an actor is booking a job. Although some luck seems involved, there are also many techniques you can apply to boost your chances at success. In this online acting class, instructor, actor, and director, Amy Lyndon, outlines some of those techniques.
She details her 15 Guideline Map to Booking Technique through the course of 35 informative video lectures. The course is divided into sections, such as introduction – booking is a separate beast: how to book acting jobs; the application; and even assignments.
For the assignments, there are five exercises that you can use to push your acting skills upward. Amy ends the course with the five basic principles of booking alongside an article on leaving a lasting impression on casting directors that would you help stand out in your acting career.
Why this online acting class?
- Lots of content: 35 lectures, 3hrs10mins
- Instructor Amy Lyndon has a 5-star rating!
- Bestseller on Udemy
- Lifetime access to course content
- Includes a course completion certificate
9. Udemy: Professional 10 Hour Acting MASTERCLASS
This highly comprehensive Udemy course teaches you how to act on the stage and the screen. You will learn to diversify your skillset so that you can adapt yourself to any role while still bringing your creative interpretation to your characters.
The many lessons in this acting class include analyzing a scene/script and knowing what you are trying to say, speaking aloud, acting with confidence, making the camera your ally, memorizing, using your personal skillset/toolbox, acting goals, and even headshots.
In addition, you get great advice about the audition process and how to deal with the casting directors, alongside how to use the director to your advantage and cope with the never-ending hustle—generally, this one of the best online acting classes on this list.
Why this online acting class?
- Bestseller on Udemy!
- High rating: 4.5 stars
- Comprehensive content: 10hrs13mins, 32 lectures
- Lifetime access to course content
- Includes a course completion certificate
