Lesly Kahn, MFA

Acting Teacher & Coach

Lesly Kahn is an acting teacher and coach based in Los Angeles, California. She is the founder and owner of Lesly Kahn & Company, Actor Training, which focuses on preparing actors for employment in film, television and theatre. With well over 30 years of experience, Ms. Kahn has coached hundreds of actors who have become household names. She also ran the BFA Program in Acting at Marymount Manhattan College, and worked in television as well as New York and regional theatre. Lesly holds a BFA from New York University and an MFA from The Yale School of Drama.

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Co-authored Articles (19)

How to

Look Sick

If you're trying to take a day off of school, get out of work, avoid the in-laws, or have to play the role of a sick person in a play, faking an illness is easier than you think. If you don't look the part, you will have...

How to

Roleplay

Roleplaying is where you pretend to be another character in a make-believe setting. There are three main types of roleplay: text-based, live-action, and tabletop. Text-based roleplaying takes place online and focuses on ...

How to

Write a Theatre Biography

If you're involved in a musical or play, you may be asked to write a biography (“bio”) about yourself for the show's playbill. A bio is a short summary that introduces you to the audience and, potentially, to indust...

How to

Create a Portfolio for Acting

If you'd like to work professionally as an actor, you'll need to make a portfolio. This portfolio functions as a document that you can distribute to casting director at or before auditions. A high-quality acting portfoli...

Audition for a TV Show: Complete Guide & Career Advice

Kickstart your acting career with this comprehensive guide Being on a successful TV show is a dream that many aspiring actors and actresses have. Having the talent and skill to rise above the competition, however, can s...

How to

Act Sad

''Convince other people you're sad or depressed with these tips''There are a variety of reasons you may want to act sad. You may want to be left alone, or have some time to reflect, or even try to get attention from some...

How to

Play Dead

Whether you're an actor or an expert prank-player, the skill of playing dead is a good one to have. Learning how to play dead can be useful when you're acting in movies, television, or theater, and can also come in handy...

How to

Audition for a TV Commercial

How to Stage Kiss like a Professional Actor

Nail your on-stage kiss with our helpful tipsWhether you're pursuing an acting career or just having fun performing in school plays, the time may come when you have to kiss a co-star on stage. It can be an uncomfortable ...

How to

Start a Career in Acting

Here's how to get into acting with little to no experienceHave you ever stood in front of a mirror enacting a scene from your favorite movie, or visualized yourself making the acceptance speech with an Oscar in your hand...

How to

Become a Broadway Actor

Many people aspire to make it on Broadway. The steps to get there can seem long and hard, but if you are willing to put in the work, you just may see your name in lights. Train hard, work hard and put your name out there...

How to

Act in a Play

The thought of acting in a play may seem overwhelming or even frightening. Though there’s a lot to do, there’s no need to worry—if you read and understand the entire play you’re already halfway there! Spend time ...

How to

Practice Acting

A high-quality actor must work hard in any role in order to appear natural. Such a professional reads scripts, practice monologues, and takes creative risks in acting classes. It takes a lot of hard work to come off as a...

How to

Memorize Your Lines

Learning you landed that leading role will have you jumping for joy, but then it hits you: now you have to memorize all of those words! While it seems daunting at first, rest assured that thousands upon thousands of acto...

How to

Be a Great Actor

Although professionals onstage or in your favorite movies might make acting seem effortless, their performances are generally the result of years of effort, intelligent research, and careful observation. You can achieve ...

How to

Learn Lines for a Play

It can often seem difficult or intimidating to be handed a script and told to learn your lines. Whether you’re learning lines for a school play, an Amateur Dramatic Production, or for a professional stage job, you can ...

How to

Prepare For a Stage Performance

In these steps you will learn a few ways to prepare you for the stage. With this information you will be ready for anything with singing, dancing, and dialogue.

How to

Become an Extra in a Movie

If you’re interested in acting, becoming an extra is a great way to gain on-camera experience. Even if you don’t want a career in the entertainment industry, it’s a cool way earn a little extra money. Search online...

How to

Get a Part in a School Play

A school play is a great opportunity to experience acting like a new and different character, make friends, and have fun. Whether or not you have other acting experience, you can successfully audition and land a part in ...