The Actor's Memorization Toolbox: 12 Techniques to Turn Lines into Second Nature

Me and Tom Belding rehearsing for The House of Yes.

How do actors memorize lines?

For some of us, it’s simple and quick and for others we have blocks and anxiety around it.

I thought I’d look at some of the techniques that have helped me over the years to give you some tools for when you’re daunted with a large script in a short amount of time. These are the best memorization methods for actors that I have used and love and I hope they help you too!

1. Demystifying Memory Myths

First things first, let's shatter a myth. Your memory is faaar more remarkable than you may give it credit for. Accept that your brain is wired to remember, and you're halfway to mastering those lines. A positive mindframe does a LOT to help you receive information. If you are telling yourself it’s hard, or you can’t, you will be right. If you tell yourself it’s possible and you will get it with time, it leaves the door open for success. Allow yourself time with the text and speak it out loud as much as possible. Get it out of silence and in your head and get your mouth around it. Eventually it will stick, keep the faith.

2. Making meaning

Understanding the framework of what the story is saying helps us internalize the meaning of what we’re saying within the whole. Looking up any words you don’t know, finding the etymological meaning will help you to know deeply what you are saying and can give you more insight into the character by the words they choose to use. Even look up the words you know, to find deeper meaning. I keep a glossary of words in my script to go back to in rehearsal.

3. Picture the Script as a Story in Snapshots

Scripts are not just a jumble of words; they're a series of images waiting to be painted on the canvas of your mind. Take each sentence, each phrase, and turn it into a vivid snapshot. Connect these mental images like links in a chain, and suddenly, memorization becomes a visual storytelling adventure. If you’re remembering images it also gets it into your body more, our mirror neurons are firing and we take it in as if it’s happening. So go slowly and let your imagination be a part of your process. Personalize the images as deeply as possible

4. Little by Little: Sectional Mastery

Break down your script into bite-sized sections. Go through and divide your script in smaller chunks - often called “Units.” These shifts affect all characters in the scene and include big topic changes, exits and entrances or phone calls. Take it one chunk at a time, spending more time on the harder parts for you. Work on one segment until it clicks, then take a break. Return, revisit, and move on to the next. It's a bit like savoring a delightful dish—you want to enjoy each flavor before moving on to the next. Learn chunk 1, repeat. Learn chunk 2, repeat chunks 1 & 2, then move to 3, and so on. Then reverse the order! Start from the bottom and work your way up. This fresh perspective keeps your mind on its toes, ensuring you master every inch of the script, not just rehearsing the beginning.

5. Move: Dance Your Lines to Memory

One big issue I see come up when actor’s memorization falls short is when they had sat and made it a brain activity, devoid of any body. What has helped me thee most is MOVEMENT! Move while you memorize. There’s a few ways of doing this; one is moving and giving a movement for each word. Say the word out loud and give it a movement and meaning, then move to the next. Another way is to run your lines while doing everyday activities – exercising, grocery shopping, washing dishes, vacuuming and cleaning, brushing your teeth, or commuting. Not only will this engage your muscles, but it'll also add a dynamic layer to your memory game. It allows you to be more in your body and flexible with any movement in the scene, your lines will stick.

6. Slow and steady

A game changing memorization strategy is one of slowing everything down to a crawl. There’s two ways of doing it; one is speaking it slowly one word at a time while reading it. If the line is. “Take me outside and show me the sun.” Looking at your page you would say out loud, while you look at the word: “ Take. Me. Outside. And. Show. Me. The. Sun.” The slower the better. Then go back over the sentences and say it connected while reading. Then move to the next sentence. The other way is to read a small chunk, look off your paper and say it outloud. Then go back to the next section. Might should like (reading, then look up) “Take me outside. “ then reading and look up “And show me the sun.” Going as slowly as possible helps the body to retain the thoughts easier, and gives you more time to internalize it and bank it in your memory. It’s more time consuming, but the quality of your presence with each word allows it to stay in your memory.

7. Colorful Connections

Give your lines a splash of color! Color-code key words and ideas on your script to make them pop. Visual cues are powerful, and a vibrant palette can help your brain create a vivid mental map of the text. Underlining operative words in red while circling your verbs in blue, etc. You can also draw the text or images you’re trying to remember. I’ve heard that highlighting with yellow has been shown to be beneficial to our memory also.

8. Record the other side of the scene

This is a game changer because it allows me to rehearse on my own anywhere I want. Use your voice app and record the other person’s dialogue, leaving space for you (trick is to leave a little more space than you think. Sometimes you need a second to recall, especially at the beginning.) Then play it back, and speak your lines out loud in the spaces you’ve created. This helps you remember your cue lines and is a simple way to run your lines while you clean or take transit, it can seem like you’re on the phone with someone and is handsfree.

9. Write It Down, Twice: The Pen-to-Paper Power

Super old school, but the act of physically writing engages tactile learners, reinforcing the connection between your hand and your memory. This is especially helpful for hard to memorize sections or monologues. Writing it out helps you be present with every word. You can even use cue cards with your cue on one side and your line on the other. Time consuming but often helpful for visual learners.

10. Bedtime Review: Dream of the Script

Sooo many times, I’m rehearsing to memorize and it’s just not clicking. As soon as I put it away and sleep, the next day something happens and it’s all there. Sleep can help us log and settle everything into memory. Review before you sleep, wake up, or even use a power nap. It's like a midnight snack for your brain, letting the script seep into your mind as you rest. Plus, it's a focused practice session in bed—fewer distractions, more script mastery.

11. Make a link between thoughts

If you keep stumbling at a particular spot, get curious about how the thoughts connect! Usually there is a though line that you are missing. Find the link between chunks, and make the connections. Rather than drowning in individual lines, create a logical flow in your mind. How did your character go from one thought to the other, fill that gap. Personalize the details, add associations, or even make a mnemonic device. Rhyme, alliteration, and consonance and assonance, are there sounds that repeat or ideas. Finding your through line will make the path so when one part comes, you know the other part is following.

12. testing your work

Once you think you have it, try things that might pull you out of it. Sing the text, do it like you’re a kid, or a clown or like you’re on a sitcom, or in a horror movie, find it pretending you’re drunk or stoned, do it like you’re a talkshow host, or a fairy princess, try it like a leaf blowing in the wind, or a rushing river, try it while you run or do burpees. Go through your Chakras and try it in different energetic signatures (more of that in Acting with the Chakras) Getting out of the logical place for the scene will help you commit it to memory and might open you up to new inspiration in the meaning behind the words.

I hope this is helpful!! You can do it! Let me know if you would add anything to this list below! Know that this isn’t just for actors, these can be simple and effective ways to memorize speeches or memorize presentations. Help with memorization is a common thing to look for anytime you have to take words off the page and make them your own! I hope these techniques help you, let me know if you tried something and how it went below!

-Missy xo