I have come across many requests for advice regarding how to properly "fake cry" for a show. I have also seen some very strange responses about how one should go about producing the sought-after tears, including such body mutilation as ripping out nose hairs!
I've always found this obsession with the tears themselves (and the lengths people are willing to go to) a bit odd. Besides the fact that only the first few rows of an audience would be actually able to see the tears, what makes them so important? True pulling out a nose hair or sniffing onions might make your eyes water, but is that eye watering what will make your acting believable? I find it hard to believe that all you have to do is produce a few tears and you will be proclaimed as a brilliant actress.
Worrying about being able to produce tears is putting the proverbial cart before the horse. My theory is that if you are trying to fake cry, it will look fake. While things such as onions and eye drops might create tears, it won't actually be crying. Body language, spoken lines, and other factors are also part of the equation. I think it is important to remember what crying really is - an emotional response. When faced with a scene in which crying is required, you need to understand first why the character is crying - what emotions are they feeling that cause the crying? (Crying is a byproduct of the emotion - few of us cry on purpose!) Do a little people watching and you will see that there are many different ways to cry depending on the emotional trigger. An angry cry will be far different from a cry of heartbreak or a cry of grief.
Once you have completely explored the emotions required, rehearse the scene and live through each emotion as fully and honestly as you can. If you are truly in the moment and feeling the emotions of your character, the tears will often come on their own. You may also find that the tears themselves will become unimportant, as your performance is genuine and believable without it. If tears are still desired after your emotional homework has been completed, consult your director.
