05-17-2008, 10:28 AM
Do you base the heroine's look on the cover art? Go with the author's description? Imagine your own "look" for the characters based on your impressions of their personalities?
I "use" actors of any era, age appropriate to the character of course -- and even if said actor is elderly or deceased now. In the 1st novel [Mostly by Moonlight, by Dorothy Daniels], I visualized Eve as portrayed by Nancy Barrett in her early 20s. Jim as portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio in his early 20s. Elisha Tuttle portrayed by Ewan McGregor, mid-20s. Prof. Warren (Eve's father) portrayed by Peter Cushing (though sans the English accent), mid-40s.
Often it's difficult for me to outright visualize a character, so I like "using" actors who I think would fit the bill.
I "use" actors of any era, age appropriate to the character of course -- and even if said actor is elderly or deceased now. In the 1st novel [Mostly by Moonlight, by Dorothy Daniels], I visualized Eve as portrayed by Nancy Barrett in her early 20s. Jim as portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio in his early 20s. Elisha Tuttle portrayed by Ewan McGregor, mid-20s. Prof. Warren (Eve's father) portrayed by Peter Cushing (though sans the English accent), mid-40s.
Often it's difficult for me to outright visualize a character, so I like "using" actors who I think would fit the bill.