Browse Acting Monologues & Scenes

Napoleon

by David Scarpa

Napoleon reflects on the devastating toll of his Russian campaign in a letter to Josephine, detailing the loss of men and horses. He grapples with the logistical failures of his army and the waning ambition of his generals as they push toward Moscow.

Sorry, Baby

by Eva Victor

Agnes speaks to an infant, Jane, offering a brutally honest and darkly comedic perspective on the hardships of life. She promises to be a non-judgmental confidante for Jane's future struggles while grappling with her own lack of maternal instinct and the existential weight of bringing a child into the world.

Slam Dunk

Carson launches into a scathing critique of the movie 'The Secret Agent,' detailing its numerous screenwriting flaws, from a lack of clear plot to nonsensical character developments and random, unexplained events. He uses the film as an example of bad screenwriting and offers advice on how to avoid similar mistakes.

A Woman of No Importance

by Oscar Wilde

Mrs. Arbuthnot delivers a powerful defense of her life and her devotion to her son, Gerald. She explains the immense sacrifices she made as an unwed mother in a judgmental society, pleading with him to understand that her 'sin' is inseparable from her love for him.

The Picture of Dorian Gray

by Oscar Wilde

Basil Hallward confesses the deep, obsessive influence Dorian Gray has had on his life and artistic vision. He explains why he was originally hesitant to exhibit the portrait, fearing it revealed too much of his own soul and his 'idolatry' of his muse.

Humanitad

by Oscar Wilde

A woman reflects on the end of a passionate relationship, using vivid natural imagery to reconcile the beauty of their past with the necessity of their parting. She urges her lover to accept that their individual paths—her beauty and his art—require them to exist in separate worlds.

The Picture of Dorian Gray

by Oscar Wilde

Basil Hallward confesses his deep-seated anxiety regarding the tragic fate of those blessed with extraordinary beauty or intellect. He warns Lord Henry that their unique gifts—wealth, brains, and Dorian's beauty—will ultimately lead to their suffering and ruin.

Some Literary Notes—V

by Oscar Wilde

The Doge recounts a harrowing spiritual battle where he sacrificed his eternal soul to save Venice from demonic forces. He describes the moment of setting a holy cross on high despite knowing it would seal his damnation, ending in a state of despair where he can no longer pray.

Looper

by Rian Johnson

A young assassin reflects on his future self's memories of a woman who changed his life. He realizes the depth of his future self's sacrifice and decides to embrace his destiny, understanding that he must die to protect the woman he has yet to meet.

A View From the Bridge

by Arthur Miller

Alfieri, a lawyer and narrator, introduces the setting of Red Hook and the cultural tension between ancient Sicilian codes of honor and modern American law. He establishes a sense of impending doom, reflecting on his role as a powerless observer to the 'bloody course' of human tragedy.

Ajax

by Sophocles

Tecmessa desperately pleads with Ajax to reconsider his suicidal path, highlighting the dire consequences his death would have on his family. She appeals to his sense of honor and duty, arguing that his demise would leave her and their son in a life of shameful slavery and misery.

Reservoir Dogs

by Quentin Tarantino

Mr. Pink delivers a crude and highly specific deconstruction of Madonna's 'Like a Virgin' to a group of professional criminals. He argues that the song is not about romance, but rather a metaphor for the physical pain of a sexual encounter with a well-endowed man.

Get Him to the Greek

by Nicholas Stoller

Aldous Snow has a moment of vulnerable clarity as he confesses his deep, albeit dysfunctional, love for his ex-girlfriend Jackie Q. He recounts a specific, wild memory that made him realize his feelings were real and expresses regret over his estrangement from their child.

Mr. Brooks

by Bruce A. Evans, Raynold Gideon

Detective Atwood walks through a crime scene, meticulously reconstructing the killer's movements and psychological state. She questions the logistics of the murder while attempting to understand the killer's lack of empathy and the thrill they derive from the act.

Water for Elephants

by Richard LaGravenese

Following the sudden death of his parents and the foreclosure of his family home, Jacob realizes his parents sacrificed everything for his education. Overwhelmed by grief and the sudden loss of his identity, he wanders into the night and makes a split-second decision to jump onto a passing train to escape his old life.

Trainspotting

by John Hodge

Mark Renton delivers a cynical, fast-paced manifesto against consumerist society while fleeing from store detectives and experiencing the highs and lows of heroin addiction. The monologue juxtaposes the mundane expectations of middle-class life with the chaotic, gritty reality of his own existence.

Safety Not Guaranteed

by Derek Connolly

Belinda recounts her past relationship with Kenneth, revealing his eccentricities and the dramatic car accident that served as their final encounter. She reflects on his insecurities and the night he crashed into her future husband's home, unknowingly providing crucial backstory for the protagonist.

Edwin A. Salt

by Kurt Wimmer

Taktaroff delivers a chilling voice-over narration detailing the brutal upbringing and indoctrination of a Soviet sleeper agent. The scene follows the subject from his parents' execution through a series of dehumanizing trials designed to create the ultimate weapon for the Cold War.

Swordfish

by Skip Woods

Gabriel delivers a chilling philosophical monologue about the nature of violence and media in modern cinema. He challenges his companions to imagine a version of 'Dog Day Afternoon' where the protagonist ruthlessly executes hostages to force the government's hand.

Romeo and Juliet

by William Shakespeare

Juliet waits impatiently for the Nurse to return with news from Romeo regarding their wedding arrangements. She reflects on the agonizing slowness of time and the contrast between the swiftness of youthful passion and the perceived lethargy of the elderly.

A Woman of No Importance

by Oscar Wilde

Hester Worsley, a young American visitor, delivers a scathing critique of the hypocrisy and moral decay she perceives in the English upper class. She challenges the guests at Lady Hunstanton's party to recognize their spiritual emptiness and their mistreatment of the poor.

Reservoir Dogs

by Quentin Tarantino

Freddy, an undercover cop, rehearses a fabricated story about a drug deal to his mentor, Holdaway. He describes the frustrations of being a small-time dealer and the logistics of a specific 'drought' in the 1980s to build his cover identity's credibility.

Jackie Brown

by Quentin Tarantino

Ordell explains his cold-blooded philosophy on survival and the distinction between the fear of dying and the lack of fear regarding killing. He asserts his dominance and justifies his lethal methods as a necessary means of self-preservation in the criminal underworld.

Jackie Brown

by Quentin Tarantino

Jackie reveals the gravity of her situation to Max, explaining that she is trapped between a lethal arms dealer and a long prison sentence. She vulnerably pleads for his assistance to help her disappear and start a new life, marking a pivotal moment of trust between the two characters.