Caught in the act: the soap opera as art – in pictures
1) The first tool in any soap actor's armoury: the facepalm. Can be used to express anything from a mild headache (left) to the sudden return of lost memory (middle) to distress over a bad Changing Rooms makeover (right)Photograph: Saatchi gallery/Julian RosefeldtThe prayer. A position favoured by football fans all over the world when their team is 1-0 down with five minutes to go – and also by the housewives of California, it seemsPhotograph: Saatchi gallery/Julian RosefeldtThe head-tilt can indicate rumination (left) or a simple sulk (right). Or it can be used to draw attention to your unnaturally shiny hair (middle) Photograph: Saatchi gallery/Julian Rosefeldt
Pens out, it's time for some intermediate level acting. The OK circle can be used to convey a point, to distract attention from a disastrous scarf, or to check whether it's fine to wear a cravat to parents' eveningPhotograph: Saatchi gallery/Julian RosefeldtYou can get lots of mileage out of this one. In fact, entire soap episodes are sometimes conducted using only the most basic hand gestures. MaybePhotograph: Saatchi gallery/Julian RosefeldtWe're moving into advanced acting terrain here. This expression is called the 'annoying fly in the room'. Don't watch it for too long or you'll end up losing your mind like actor one herePhotograph: Saatchi gallery/Julian RosefeldtThis classic demonstration of distress is also a handy opportunity to show off your nails and your cocktail ring collection. Liza Minnelli, Jack Lemmon and Sarah Jessica Parker have duly blinged up for the occasionPhotograph: Saatchi gallery/Julian RosefeldtAnd here are the also-rans. Call those rings? Try harder Photograph: Saatchi gallery/Julian RosefeldtBetter luck next year people, move along now Photograph: Saatchi gallery/Julian RosefeldtIt's part of a soap star's basic training to learn the hand gestures to the Spice Girls' 2 Become 1 Photograph: Saatchi gallery/Julian Rosefeldt… and to Westlife's World of Our Own Photograph: Saatchi gallery/Julian Rosefeldt
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