Cops, doctors and lawyers.

When playing these iconic roles some guidelines might be useful.

A useful start to playing any role is to ask, ‘How would I act in a situation like this.’

First and foremost, all of these roles are people at work, doing their jobs. They’re good at them, they like them, it’s always just another day at work, they don’t have any other job, they’re successful.

The situation may be high stakes but the protagonist is doing their usual job. That’s key for you to find the daily normal of these characters. 

The situation might be a big deal, but for them it’s no big deal.

Also, they’re cool. Everyone in TV is cool except for victims, patients, the elderly and people who are mentally challenged.

They can say no. They have the power of life and death whether it’s giving a death sentence in court, saving your life or shooting you dead.

Their work is repetitive – even boring - but they always strive to be successful. And that includes carrying any personal problems they may have. Baggage.

It might be like when you do your work as an actor – or any other occupation. 

The starting point to playing a doctor, cop or lawyer is that it’s their job.