In the world of acting, few moments are as powerful or memorable as those that bring audiences to tears. Whether it’s a heart-wrenching scene of loss, a climactic moment of joy, or the quiet aftermath of a personal revelation, the way an actor handles emotion can make or break a performance. But one of the most effective yet overlooked techniques? Fighting the tears.
It may seem counterintuitive, but fighting tears—holding back emotion rather than fully releasing it—can create a much more profound impact on a scene. The tension, vulnerability, and humanity in those moments of resistance make the character’s struggle feel all the more real. It’s a method used by some of the most celebrated actors in Hollywood, and in this article, we’ll explore why this technique works, along with other tips used by Academy Award-winning actors to master the art of crying on screen.
Why Fighting Tears Can Create a More Emotional Scene
When you fight tears, you’re not just portraying sadness—you’re showing restraint, conflict, and raw vulnerability. Think about real life. Rarely do we allow ourselves to fully break down in front of others. There’s often an internal struggle to maintain composure, and that’s where the true power lies. This creates a palpable tension that resonates with the audience.
For example, in 2008’s Doubt, Meryl Streep’s character, Sister Aloysius, has a scene with Father Flynn (played by Philip Seymour Hoffman) where she begins to doubt her convictions. You can see the emotional dam breaking behind her stoic expression, but Streep holds back the tears. The restraint makes the moment much more intense, as the audience can feel the emotional weight without the release of full-on sobbing.
This technique makes the audience lean in, engaging them on a deeper level because they are waiting, watching, and anticipating whether the character will fully lose control.
How To Fight Tears Effectively as an Actor
1. Understand the Scene’s Emotional Arc
Fighting tears shouldn’t be a random choice. It has to make sense within the emotional arc of your character. Are they someone who’s usually strong and composed but slowly unraveling? Or are they in a situation where they have to keep it together, no matter what’s going on internally? Understanding your character’s backstory and the stakes of the scene is crucial to deciding when and how to hold back tears.
2. Use Your Body
When you hold back emotion, it doesn’t just happen in your face. Your entire body should show the tension. Clenching your fists, shifting your weight, or tightening your jaw are subtle cues that show you’re fighting your feelings. These small details will communicate the internal struggle to the audience without overplaying it.
3. Focus on Your Breathing
In those moments where you’re on the edge of crying, focus on your breath. Short, shallow breaths or holding your breath momentarily can mimic the real-life experience of someone trying to hold back their emotions. You can also try shaking your breath slightly—almost like you’re about to sob but holding it in.
4. Let the Tears Build Slowly
Fighting tears isn’t about staying completely dry-eyed; it’s about letting the emotion build up in a way that doesn’t immediately result in sobbing. You can let your eyes well up without letting the tears fall. This slow build makes the eventual release, if it happens, far more powerful.
Crying Tips from Academy Award-Winning Actors
While fighting tears can be an effective technique, there are other approaches to crying on screen that some of the greatest actors use to deliver emotionally charged performances. Here are a few tips that actors like Viola Davis, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Natalie Portman have used to perfect their emotional performances.
1. Tap Into Personal Memories
Many actors use the technique of emotional memory recall to bring themselves to tears. By tapping into a personal experience that mirrors the emotions of the scene, they can bring genuine tears and emotion to their performance.
Viola Davis, known for her deeply emotional performances, has spoken about using this technique in films like Fences and Doubt. In a particularly memorable scene in Fences, she holds back tears for most of the confrontation with her husband, but eventually allows herself to break down. Davis draws from her own life experiences to fuel these emotional scenes, making her tears feel raw and real.
2. Use Props and Environment
Sometimes the setting or a particular prop can help trigger emotion. For instance, the weight of a letter, an old photo, or the sound of a particular piece of music can serve as a catalyst for emotional release. Some actors will use these external stimuli to focus on their character’s emotional response.
For example, in Schindler’s List, Liam Neeson’s character experiences a tearful breakdown after realizing he could have saved more lives. Neeson uses the simple prop of a gold ring to focus his emotion, allowing the weight of the moment to hit him—and the audience—hard.
3. Understand the Character’s Motivation
Sometimes, tears come not from sadness but from a deep understanding of a character’s needs or desires. As an actor, it’s important to know what your character wants in the scene and what they’re losing. That loss or unfulfilled desire can drive the emotion and help you deliver a powerful crying performance.
Leonardo DiCaprio is a master of this. In The Revenant, his character suffers immense physical and emotional pain, but DiCaprio never cries in a traditional sense. Instead, his face shows the emotional turmoil, and in moments where tears might have flowed, he tightens up, letting the intensity of the situation speak for itself. By understanding the deep motivations of his character—survival and revenge—he delivers an Oscar-winning performance that resonates deeply.
4. Don’t Force It
Not every emotional scene requires tears, and sometimes forcing them can detract from the power of a performance. Some actors rely on subtlety rather than tears to convey deep emotion.
In The Godfather, Al Pacino’s character, Michael Corleone, experiences immense emotional turmoil after losing loved ones and taking on the role of the mafia leader. Yet, Pacino rarely cries in the traditional sense. Instead, he lets the audience see the emotion simmering beneath the surface, giving a more nuanced, controlled performance. His silence and stillness in emotional moments are just as powerful as tears, if not more so.
5. Practice Makes Perfect
Like any aspect of acting, the ability to cry on command or hold back tears takes practice. Many actors rehearse their emotional scenes repeatedly, experimenting with different techniques until they find the most authentic way to express their character’s feelings. Whether it’s through emotional memory, physical gestures, or working with the scene’s setting, the key is to practice enough that the emotion feels natural.
Natalie Portman, who won an Oscar for her role in Black Swan, has spoken about the intense preparation she underwent for her emotionally and physically demanding role. By rehearsing her emotional scenes over and over, she was able to access the deep pain and inner conflict of her character.
Wrapping Up: Embrace the Struggle
Crying on cue isn’t easy, but mastering the art of emotional expression—whether through full-on sobbing or the subtle power of fighting back tears—can elevate your acting to the next level. The key is to be honest in your portrayal, to know your character’s motivations deeply, and to use your own emotions as a tool without letting them take over.
Whether you’re training for your first scene or preparing for an Academy Award-winning performance, remember that the emotional journey is just as important as the tears themselves. So, embrace the struggle, fight the tears when necessary, and let your performance resonate with truth and depth.
By applying these techniques, you’ll not only connect with your audience on a deeper level but also leave a lasting impression that could very well lead you down the path to your own acting accolades.
Closing Thoughts: A Challenge for Aspiring Actors
For all you aspiring actors out there, I challenge you: in your next emotional scene, instead of going straight for the tears, try fighting them. Show the internal battle, the raw emotion held back, and see how it changes the dynamic of the scene. You may find that less is more, and the quietest moments of restraint can be the most powerful of all.
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