Breaking character

Breaking character is when someone who is playing a role or pretending to be someone else for a movie, show, theater, or any other performance, forgets that they are still acting and does something that is not part of their character or the story.

Let’s imagine you are playing a superhero or a princess in a play with your friends. If you start talking like yourself instead of the superhero or princess, or if you start doing something that is not part of the play, like texting, you are breaking character.

Breaking character can happen when people get nervous, forget their lines, or have a hard time staying focused. It can also happen because of something unexpected that happens, like a loud noise or a mistake from another actor.

Sometimes breaking character can be funny, and people may laugh. But it can also make the audience confused or ruin the story of the play or movie that the performers are trying to tell. So it’s important to try and stay in character and keep the story going.