Can we measure great acting?
I used 3,144,427 data points to decode Emma Thompson's performance in Love Actually to understand the 'maths' of great acting.
I’m starting on a journey to track the numbers behind great acting. I began with a performance that breaks my heart every time I watch it - Emma Thompson’s in Love Actually.
I’ll be uploading new video essays every couple of weeks throughout 2026, so make sure you’re subscribed on YouTube to get notified when another drops (also, subscribing will really help me out with the Algorithm Gods, so it would mean a lot to me - thank you!).
If you want to know more about the channel, here’s a quick primer:
While I may not agree with the notion of any relevance between the data and how the performance resonates beyond the screen, I found this article and concept interesting. Here's why.
We've received over 10,000 film submissions (on 213 TV) in the past 2 years.
We're not watching based on content opinion. We're watching based on quality - does any of the production of the film or show, get in the way of keeping you in the story.
And over 75% of the time, the submissions not passing that initial filter, were not due to selection of camera, style of lighting, or any number of other technical matters we love to debate.
In the vast majority of those 75%, it was the acting, which in the first 60 seconds, is typically a giveaway as to how watchable the film/show will be.
So the idea of measuring acting, has some context for us.
Anyway - interesting topic.
Thanks for your work and insights.