any professional actors about? Do you think you can be taught

I don't think you can teach someone with no natural talent to act no

Because OP is being really snippy with anyone who dares to ask why they are asking? God forbid people might be interested, or want to be as helpful as possible.

There is a difference OP. To be a professional actor you need physical and mental resilience, for example to go through audition rounds, cope with rejection, cope with performing 8 shows a week, potentially physical work, vocal work etc, learn lines quickly, adapt and be versatile. Whilst amateurs actors need far less of this - a couple of rehearsals a week and then 7 shows. So many of the skills do not overlap.

To be a successful actor you also need to be cast-able, so that will mean people wanting to work with you, to be in a room with you, you being a generous and supportive ensemble member, and taking direction well.

Acting is as much about how well you fit into a team as what you alone do with your face, voice and body while you are "acting". Hence 3 years training will teach that. Or every weekend part-time or whatever.

I literally posted a link to a beginners drama class last night, it lists the skills that they teach, and then the next level course and the skills that teaches and so on.

But yes, to your theoretical question I believe with the right theoretical training and with significant theoretical dedication and theoretical determination that you can become an excellent theoretical actor. Without either of those things and just natural flare I don't think you would make the theoretically big time.

There are so many variables and without more details I am not quite sure what you are asking OP. If you could be less cryptic people might be able to offer targeted advice? E.g. do you wish to train, and get an agent an work professionally? How old are you? Do you work or are you a student? Could you train full time? What is your acting experience so far? Do you have any non-professional credits? Do you have a showreel?
Or do you wish to do am dram but improve your acting skills before you do so?
If you wish to act professionally and actually earn money / make a career you'll do better with professional representation and to get that you need to train at a drama school to then be part of a showcase where agents come and watch.
If you wish to be a better amateur actor then you need to practice, do as many shows and plays as you can, and maybe attend workshops if you are really keen.
Asking about what skills you need and what the building blocks are etc, the answer is the same - you need to practice and do proper training. We can't just tell you how to be an accomplished actor on this thread in the same way we can't teach you how to drive. You need to practice and / or train depending on your outcome.

😂

They’re asking questions about motivation. Like any good actor.😀

I think lots of people do Am Dram for the enjoyment not because they are amazing actors, if you enjoy it and want to have a go then I’d get into the chorus of the production, you’d learn a lot by watching others.

I’m sorry @PintersPint Because of the way you are framing your questions I had assumed you meant training to act professionally. In all honesty I am unclear what your point is now. Actors are not a homogeneous group of people who train the same way, use the same methods and have the same impact on people. It’s an art not a science and can’t be measured by percentages. I know some critic sites try to do this but the thing about how you respond to a performance is so individual and personal. If you are thinking of having a go just go for it and concentrate on enjoying yourself. Chances are if you have a good time the audience will too.

I think with a really good actress it's more about what they teach themselves and what they learn by watching than what someone teaches them.

I doubt it myself. That's why top drama schools take 28 or so every year from say 4000 applicants. They not only need natural talent but also the ability to learn and apply the learning, to let themselves be extremely vulnerable, to know themselves, and to know their body.

I know exactly what you mean. It's like asking whether you can teach someone how to have charisma.

I was on a night out with friends several years ago in the middle of Liverpool. All of a sudden a young couple next to our table started to have a huge fight, yelling at each other and shouting. A lot of people moved away from them. What I found really odd was that although they sounded believable, I just didn't believe them. I grew up in a household with domestic violence and I am very well used to my physical reactions when there is sudden violence and shouting. I didn't experience any of those reactions at all that night. Other people clearly did and when I checked with my friends none of them had grown up with any kind of violence. They had all believed the couple. It turned out the couple were acting students and did this sort of thing quite a lot. They were kicked out that night and had been kicked out before. 🤣

I am certain there are actors good enough to make my skin prickle if they raise their voices. Although these two that night seemed technically fine, there was that little thing missing, similar to charisma, that I think you just can't teach.

Absolutely @ViolinsPlayGentlyOn

Or have the right look and be lucky

That’s beside the point @Onlyhereforthebatshitneighbours Had the OP said they wanted to learn to act for more general purposes my answer would have been different.

Unless you are happy to act for pleasure rather than as a career I wouldn’t bother trying to learn

Quite a shame to have this attitude, so can much be learned from even basic acting training that can be valuable in many areas of a professional, or in one's personal, life.

I think you need a huge amount of natural talent to succeed as an actor. Unless you are happy to act for pleasure rather than as a career I wouldn’t bother trying to learn.

Local theatres will often run courses
like this

Just like anything you can learn skills. Even once you are an established actor you might read around your character, or if a modern day one spend time with someone similar Tom Holland spent time in an American High School before playing Spiderman etc.

It is a spectrum, not a case of 'no talent' vs 'talent'.

No talent / <.....................................the vast majority.......................................> / talent.

Almost everyone is in that middle section, and it applies to all endeavours really.

Is acting the same such that those with no natural affinity/talent will never be able to get very good?

this is quite a complicated question, because “good” is such a subjective thing when it comes to the arts. And what is your benchmark? Getting a role in a community play? Making a living from acting? Getting a good review? Winning an Olivier award?

I think it’s unlikely that anyone with no affinity for acting would be sufficiently motivated to try to see if they could become “good”.

I believe anyone motivated enough to try probably already has an affinity, and could certainly learn enough technique to at least become an am dram performer.

Professional acting has so many other factors (e.g. charisma, personality, attractiveness, prevailing fashions in the performing arts, luck, resilience), that there aren’t many useful benchmarks for “good”.