Terry Knickerbocker and Belinda Mello on why the body is one of an actor’s most underrated tools
At Terry Knickerbocker Studio, we train actors to bring more than just their emotions to the work—we train them to bring their whole selves. And that means starting with the body.
Too often, actors think of the body as secondary—something to control, push through, or forget. But in truth, the body is the actor’s most immediate, most honest, and most versatile instrument. Without embodied awareness, performances can feel disconnected or forced, no matter how emotionally rich the material is.
In a recent conversation between studio founder Terry Knickerbocker and Alexander Technique teacher Belinda Mello, the two explored how presence, breath, voice, and movement all intersect in the craft of acting—and why tuning into your physical instrument can open the door to more truthful and sustainable work.
“We’re not trying to solve a problem,” Mello said. “We’re helping actors come back to themselves.”
Instead of fighting nerves or trying to “get it right,” actors are invited to notice what’s happening. Where am I holding tension? What support is available to me in this moment? What does the space allow? These questions shift an actor’s experience from self-consciousness to self-awareness—a crucial difference.
The Alexander Technique, integrated into our movement and voice training at TKS, gives actors the tools to stay grounded, sensitive, and responsive—in rehearsal, on set, and on stage. Whether it’s learning how to breathe through a climactic scene or releasing unnecessary effort from a “performance-ready” body, the goal is always the same: freedom. Not floppy, checked-out relaxation—but what Mello calls tensegrity: energy moving in multiple directions, creating integrity and balance.
When an actor is truly embodied, they can meet the moment, rather than anticipate it. They become more available—to the other actor, to the story, to the space. As Terry puts it, “The best performances look effortless. But that ease is built on craft.”
At Terry Knickerbocker Studio, our commitment to integrating movement and voice training into every actor’s journey isn’t just philosophical. It’s practical. It helps actors work sustainably, take risks safely, and access deeper connection—to themselves, their scene partners, and their audiences.
Because the truth is: the audience can only experience what the actor is experiencing. And when the actor’s whole instrument is available, the work resonates.
Want to experience the difference for yourself? Learn more about acting, movement and voice classes at Terry Knickerbocker Studio — the premier acting school in NYC for grounded, embodied, Meisner-based actor training.
Watch the entire conversation on Youtube: