How do you act sadness?

[Colton Stevens]

Since I was a child, I have asked myself how are actors able to be sad or cry in sad scenes. What is the secret that shifts their mood on demand? Are they really sad when they are acting that scene? Do they actually feel something? Or it is some sort of trick they use to seem sad even though they are happy?

 

[Charlote Davis]

I read a few posts about this a few weeks ago. Some actors are preparing prior to that role and they get so much in the skin of the character that it can be difficult for them to get back into their own skin once the production is over. Especially if you act a character like "the Joker".