History Main / ActorInspiredElement

* In the ''Film/HarryPotter'' movies, Lucius Malfoy's snake walking stick ([[SwordCane with his wand in it]]) was a suggestion by Creator/JasonIsaacs. Isaacs also suggested other elements of the character's appearance such as his long hair and elaborate robes, arguing that it was in character of Lucius, an elitist and wizard supremacist, to have a dignified but distinctly un-{{Muggle}} appearance. The original costume concept, by contrast, would have had short-cropped hair and a black pinstriped suit.

** In another example, the costume designer really wanted to reflect the AnachronismStew of the musical through having the actors wear period clothing from the neck down, but look modern from the neck up. For most of the actors, this simply meant not doing the wigs or powdered hair mandatory in men's fashion at the time. However, there was a particular instance where Hercules Mulligan's actor, Okriete Onaodowan, came to a rehearsal wearing a skull cap and the designer really liked the way it looked, so he was asked to keep it on. After that, it became a regular part of the character's costume.

* Creator/KristenStewart suggested that her character in ''{{Film/Underwater}}'' shave her head, as Norah is supposed to be a mechanical engineer who is working on an oil rig on the bottom of the ocean floor, and thus would be practical both for the in-universe conditions as well as for filming. She later admitted she always wanted to try shaving her head anyway, and the film happened to provide a perfect excuse for it.

** Boba Fett's fighting style in "The Tragedy" was modeled after the haka ([[UsefulNotes/NewZealand Māori]] ritual dance) at Creator/TemueraMorrison's own request. Boba's gaffi stick was made longer than those used in ''Film/ANewHope'' to accomodate his movements and make it closer to a traditional Māori weapon used for such dances, the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiaha taiaha]].

** Pedro Pascal has also claimed credit for delaying when exactly "The Believer" would show his face. Concept art showed Mando revealing himself to Mayfeld early into the mission, but Pascal suggested that Mando instead hide himself until a high-stakes moment. In the completed episode, Mando keeps his face covered until he must have it scanned.

* Creator/KeithDavid used to shout out "Jalapeña" as a replacement for "Hallelujah," a {{Character Tic|s}} he picked from blues singer Bernadine Mitchell. Come ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'', this would become a mild {{Catchphrase}} among the main characters, particularly Goliath (whom David voiced).
** Voice director Jamie Thomason bet that series creator Creator/GregWeisman wouldn't be able to put it into the show -- obviously, Weisman won.

*** The Fourth Doctor offering Sarah Jane jelly babies was the brainchild of Creator/TomBaker and [[CatchPhrase he ran with it]]. The fact that Tom Baker's favorite jelly babies were the orange ones was eventually written into the character in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS15E6TheInvasionOfTime "The Invasion of Time"]]. Also, the AttentionWhore characteristics written into the character from Season 15 onward were added when the crew realized they weren't able to stop Tom Baker [[LargeHam hamming it up for attention]] anymore.

She suggested Thirteen's first words of "Oh, brilliant!", as it really is something she says a lot herself. She also started prior to her first full series that she'd try to fit in another expression she often uses, "Ace!"[[note]]Funnily enough, this was already something of a CatchPhrase for the companion ''named'' Ace, much to the confusion of anyone unfamiliar with the saying.[[/note]]\\\

* ''Series/TheLordOfTheRingsTheRingsOfPower'' : Creator/CharlieVickers declared he took a [[Series/TheBoys Homelander]] approach to play Sauron.

* In ''WesternAnimation/Cars2'', Miles Axlerod apparently got his name from a joke his voice actor Creator/EddieIzzard told involving the wheel and axle.

* In a CanonImmigrant way, Kano was originally Japanese in ''VideoGame/MortalKombat1''. After being played by an English actor who often claimed to be Australian and portrayed Kano as such in [[Film/MortalKombatTheMovie the movie]], [[Franchise/MortalKombat further installments]] had him come from the LandDownUnder.

* ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean'': Jack Sparrow's way of talking and behaving was basically Creator/JohnnyDepp adding to a character that was intended to be more of a generic LongJohnShoutout type pirate.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'', Helen Parr has a slight lisp due to speaking from the right side of her mouth, which is taken from her actress Creator/HollyHunter.

* Creator/SachaBaronCohen provided two of the most famous aspects of the ''WesternAnimation/{{Madagascar}}'' films and his character, King Julien:

* In ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'', Po was originally meant to be a ParodySue character who wondered why the Furious Five didn't like him, but actor Creator/JackBlack thought the audience would sympathize more with him if he was more aware of his flaws.

* The title character's memorable EstablishingCharacterMoment in ''Film/WillyWonkaAndTheChocolateFactory'', in which he [[ObfuscatingDisability feigns a limp and leans on a cane before executing a perfect somersault]], was Creator/GeneWilder's idea.

See also: DirectedByCastMember, WrittenByCastMember, InspirationForTheWork and MetaCasting.

* According to [[https://youtu.be/FgX84koxTS8?t=377 a Q&A session]] for ''Film/ShredderOrpheus'', Steven Jesse Bernstein, who played Axel, named the Grey Zone.

*** The original script for the series finale had Sisko leaving to be with the Prophets permanently. Avery Brooks objected to the UnfortunateImplications of a black man abandoning his wife and child, and the scene was changed to establish that Sisko promised to return.