Public speaking and acting – What is the difference?

​Public speaking can have performative aspects - good public speakers know how to use dramatic techniques for effect. But public speaking and acting are not the same thing. Understanding the similarities and differences can help you become a better public speaker. 

The Purpose
Acting aims primarily to entertain and transport the audience into a fictional world.

Public speaking typically seeks to inform, persuade or inspire although it may also entertain.

The person
Actors embody different characters, adopting new personas and personalities. Public speakers perform best when they remain authentically themselves.

Many speakers unconsciously slip into “presentation mode”, adopting an artificial formal persona that creates a barrier between them and their audience. The key to effective public speaking is to embrace your authentic self while remaining professional and purposeful.

A piece of advice that I give in my courses is that your speech or presentation should be one that only you can deliver. Even if 80% of your content is dictated by corporate requirements, there will be an opportunity to put your own spin on it. Use your own stories or examples and let your personality come through – if you are a funny person, crack a joke. If appropriate, let yourself be vulnerable, and talk about failures or obstacles. 

The audience
Actors generally maintain the ‘fourth wall’, pretending the audience does not exist.

Public speakers actively engage with their audience, creating a dynamic two-way connection. This connection is crucial for public speakers who must read the room, adapt their delivery and build rapport with their listeners in real time. A good public speaker appears to be ‘having a conversation’ rather than ‘giving a presentation’.

To be an engaging public speaker, give the audience a window into who you are and what you care about. That does not mean saying the first thing that comes into your head, or oversharing.  But it does mean making a meaningful connection with your audience.

I had a private coaching session recently with an immigrant completing her New Zealand dental exams. She was worried about the practical exam where she will be given a scenario and asked to role-play interacting with the patient – i.e explaining what she is doing and establishing a rapport. She wondered if she should take acting lessons. My advice was absolutely not! She had a lovely engaging personality, and all she needed to do was imagine that she had a real patient in front of her.

The preparation
An actor memorises lines and has to know those lines so well that there is no hesitation when they recall them. 

As a public speaker, if you were giving a TED talk, I might recommend that you memorise a script like an actor. But in most other situations, you should focus on mastering your content’s flow and structure. This approach allows you to be flexible and authentic while maintaining professionalism and coherence.

In my early thirties, I gave a speech at a friend’s wedding. Afterwards, the father of the groom approached me and said that if it was an impromptu speech, it was the best he had ever heard.

The truth was that it was not impromptu - it was a highly practised speech! It took me a while to process the comment. Was it a compliment? Why did it seem like an impromptu speech? 

Eventually, I realised that I should take it as a compliment as I had accidentally achieved what many people strive for in public speaking – the art of giving a good speech that  appeared off-the-cuff!

The delivery
Presenting and acting both require high energy levels to keep the audience engaged. Both draw on vocal variety, movement and body language to achieve this. If you have ever heard a speaker talk in a monotone, you will know how hard it is to stay focused! When a speaker varies their pace, volume, expression, and body language it is much more engaging.

Many great public speakers use dramatic effects for storytelling but then drop all of this to speak directly to the audience. Combining high-energy drama (similar to acting) and direct audience engagement can be powerful. But use the drama sparingly – you can overdo it.

Conclusion
While public speaking and acting share some common elements, they require different approaches and skill sets. The key to exceptional public speaking lies not in becoming a great actor, but in developing the confidence to be authentically yourself while effectively communicating your message.

Remember: Your greatest asset as a public speaker is your unique perspective, experience, and personality. By focusing on clear communication, genuine audience connection, and thoughtful preparation—while remaining true to yourself—you can deliver presentations that are both impactful and memorable.

The most successful public speakers understand that their goal isn't to put on a performance but to create a meaningful exchange of ideas with their audience. By embracing this fundamental difference, you can move beyond mere presentation and toward truly effective communication.

Article written by Catherine Syme