9 December 2007 - 11:20Anna Deavere Smith becomes her interviewees in performance

Anna Deavere Smith displays some of the best acting I’ve ever seen, becoming her characters rather than just acting like them.

Official Spiel:
Actor Anna Deavere Smith brings the TED audience to their feet as she gives life to a series of quintessential Americans. Smith transforms herself in and out of character as she embodies legendary author Studs Terkel, followed by convict Paulette Jenkins, a Korean merchant in Los Angeles after the 1992 riots, and finally a rodeo bull rider. The monologues are drawn verbatim from interviews she conducted for On the Road: A Search for American Character.

My spiel:
Everyone has a native ability to behave like someone else, pick up a few of their characteristics as time goes on. Watch an entire season of your favorite TV show in one evening and you’ll begin to sound like the cast (I’m looking at you Jess). But to be able to pick up and put down a personality like garment is where Anna stands apart. To be able to turn it on and turn it off at will- I’ve never quite seen anything like it.