IA's Approach to Acting
IA utilizes images, colours, sounds, and music from our daily lives to enhance performances. By embracing instinctual moments and trusting your judgment and instincts, you can access a new approach to acting. Drawing on your life experiences and senses in the present moment, IA offers a unique method that allows actors to tap into their instincts and emotions, creating authentic and powerful performances.
IA is a student of the great acting teachers, from Stanislavski to Chekhov, Meisner to Uta Hagen, Lee Strasberg to Stella Adler and Harold Clurman. IA acknowledges their influences and contributions to the development of our teaching techniques.
After completing a 3-year training program with IA, you will be awarded a Diploma and have the opportunity to be featured on Spotlight.
Our Student Actors
At IA, we take pride in showcasing the incredible talents of our actors who have refined their skills with us. Many have successfully ventured into various acting projects, demonstrating the effectiveness of our unique approach to nurturing talent and fostering creativity. Join us in celebrating these remarkable individuals and their achievements!
SILVIA BUSUIOC
"I've been working with Michael for about 4 years now. When I first moved to London, my agent told me I was moving too much for camera acting and was being "theatrical". Meeting Michael was my salvation. We worked privately and in class to improve acting for the camera. He is a wonderful and inspiring teacher and gets you to dig deeper into the script, find your way to connect with the character and expand your technic. He helped me with preparing several auditions over the years, which I booked. Now even if on distance, we keep working together on every new project I get. And every acting session helps me improve my skills and get a better view upon the story and character I have to create. Thank you Michael for being so awesome!"
"I met Michael over eight years ago when his Soho acting class was recommended to me by a producer. The classes were very different from the courses and workshops I had previously attended, and I found an honest, harsh truth in Michael's approach to teaching that I connected with. It has assisted me in moving forward with my career by providing me with some very useful tools. Fast forward to 2017, and I still enjoy working with Michael on a one-to-one basis. We have had a journey working from page to screen on many occasions in film and TV projects. Weekly, we work on all areas of the craft, including preparing for auditions. If successful, we go even deeper into the essence of the character, helping me bring the character to life and deliver memorable on-screen performances. I have grown massively over the years, and my passion for doing great work grows stronger every day. Michael is an essential part of my team and someone I'm proud to call a friend." Cengiz Dervis, Actor KNIGHTFALL (History), RETRIBUTION (Amazon Prime, Sky), BY ANY NAME (Amazon Prime), STREETFIGHTER: RESURRECTION (Amazon Prime, Netflix).
ABBIE STEELE
" I always knew I wanted to become a professional actress from a very young age and when it became apparent that the Drama School route was not going to be an option for me, (after many years and a lot of expense trying) I was left deflated and confused as I was always led to believe that if I wanted to be an actress, I had to go to Drama School. I knew I had talent and ambition, but neither of those was really going to give me a long lasting career in the industry if I did not know how to develop skills and did not have a strong foundation of good training to support me. Fortunately a friend of mine recommended his acting coach, Michael Duvall as an alternative option to Drama School. He gave me the most inspiring description of the work that Michael does to strip away all of the 'acting' and instead become real and believable on camera. I met with Michael and within a couple of months had moved from my rural upbringing in Cumbria, to the big city of London so I could train properly with him. I started one to one sessions and weekly workshops at Instinctual Acting in 2013 and have not looked back since. I will continue to train with Michael for many more years to come, he literally has changed my life and helped me to develop my career in the acting industry in a way I never thought would be possible. Not only has he taught me the skills I need to understand scripts and deliver real performances, but he has taught me the invaluable lessons of how to conduct myself in the industry as a business professional too. I can't thank him enough for everything he has taught me and for the confidence he has given me to really make a good career for myself as an actress"
BEVAN VILJOEN
"I first began training with Michael just over seven years ago as was eager to develop my craft as a screen actor with the ultimate goal of developing a career for myself in TV & Film internationally. As a former athlete and model I'd done some TV work but was completely and utterly raw in front of camera to begin with. Under Michael's tutelage and with his passion and unrelenting pursuit of excellence I can unequivocally reflect on the past few years where my acting career has seen me travel the world working on several international films. Two of which are large studio films that Michael guided me and helped me prepare my character thoroughly. Indeed it is this attention to detail and thorough insight into the instinctual art of screen acting that got me noticed on set and has meant I was cast in other roles. I can only attribute this success to Michael's training. I still see him regularly working on audition roles and also further honing my screen acting skills' I consider him an integral part of my team and also a close friend."
ELOISE TURNER
“I joined Instinctual Acting because I believe you should constantly train and work at your craft but, I didn’t know that iA would become such a huge part of my life. Not only have I learnt a whole new approach to acting but I have learnt so much about the industry, connected with amazing actors and become a part of a community."
ESMERALDA MALOUFI
"I met Michael around two years ago when the idea of becoming an actor was still a dream in the back of my mind, after having been here for the short time that I have, I realise there is so much potential, potential which Michael has helped me see over the years, and that it matters not just that I have it but how I use it. I am eternally grateful to Michael for helping me envision a successful path in acting and entertainment, the connections I have made and the confidence I have grown to have, and I am looking forward to seeing what my future has in store, and I am excited to grow."
MJ LEE
"My name is MJ Lee and I'm an actor regularly going to Instinctual Acting with Michael Duvall. Michael's concept of 'instinctual acting' is the reason that I am able to connect to characters. I am challenged every time I walk through the door when I go into workshops or work one-to-one with Michael. His idea of just trusting my instincts has pushed me to probe both my craft as an actor and myself as a person. The confidence I have in this method of acting will carry me throughout the longevity of my career." Actor | Creative
DOMINIC JAMES BAKER
"Studying under Michael really helps drive forward true instincts and limits the over-intellectualising that held me back for many years. Such a simple and true technique has taught me how to construct a working method that suits me. What excites me more, is that I've only scratched the surface of what iA can offer and already the way I approach the industry has changed greatly. This is a concept that will shape the way future actors build their careers, there is no doubt."