Actors often write character bios. They’ll take all the information they can glean from the script and then expand on it until their character is big as life in their minds. Some actors merely jot notes down in the margins of their script. Others write up detailed documents. Any format and length is fine as long as it works for the individual actor.

        I have encountered writers who balk at writing character biographies. Granted, it’s extra work, but it’s work you’ll have to do anyway, in some form. You can’t write actions and dialogue for someone you don’t know. I encourage writers, especially beginners, to know as much about their characters as possible. Shallowness and inconsistencies that appear in your final story will undermine all your other hard work. That can be avoided by writing up detailed bios.

        Now here’s the filled-in sample. As I said above, this sample uses the well-known character of Luke Skywalker. Note that I wrote this bio as of the first movie, as if this were a document that George Lucas might have written for use during the writing of his first script, A New Hope. Knowledge about Luke discovered in later movies does not apply.

 

CHARACTER NAME: Luke Skywalker

NICKNAME(S): none

ALIAS: none

AGE: about 16

NATIONALITY: native of planet Tatooine

MODEL: n/a (who knows who George Lucas envisioned before Mark Hamill was cast?)

GENERAL PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Height: about 5’9”

Weight: about 150 lbs.

Eye Color: heroic blue

Hair Color and Style: blonde, short, shaggy

Other Specific Body Characteristics: Cute features that will become handsome as he ages. Shuffles his feet when he walks. Slumps shoulders and hangs head when depressed. Suffers from a little teenage awkwardness. Once his heroism surfaces, he stands more erect and tries to be more sure of himself, but he’s still endearingly awkward.

FASHION PREFERENCES: Grew up on a desert “moisture” farm, so he has had little chance to develop style. Wears utilitarian beige tunic with leggings and boots. He’s the kind of kid who would think wearing a cape is dashing.

PERSONALITY: A charming dreamer but very frustrated because of the circumstances of his life. Ready for action, even if he has no idea how to handle action. Brave, naïve, a little stupid (leaps before he looks), eager for adventure. If he had a puppy tail, it would wag constantly. Very likeable, not always responsible, loyal and honest to a fault. Stubborn, determined, ambitious. A hopeless romantic.

FAULTS: Undisciplined, rash, easily riled, desperate to grow up.

FAMILY

Mother: name unspecified, deceased

Father: Anakin Skywalker, deceased (no hints that he’s Vader in this film)

Sister(s): none known

Brother(s): none known

Spouse: n/a

Children: n/a

Other Significant Relatives: none

WHERE/WHEN BORN: n/a

EDUCATION: Presumably he attended/received the traditional education according to the Tatooine system.

POLITICAL BELIEFS/PARTY AFFILIATIONS: Luke desperately wants to join the Rebel Alliance, but he’s too young yet. He at least wants to enroll at the "Academy,” but his uncle won’t allow it.

RELIGIOUS OR PHILOSOPHICAL BELIEFS: Good must conquer Evil because that’s how it should be. To struggle and fight for what is right is noble and good. No specific belief system otherwise specified.

LIKES/DISLIKES: Luke hates working on his uncle’s farm, but he’s a good kid so he does as he’s told. He hates the fact that his uncle won’t let him attend the Academy — his uncle broke a bargain, and Luke feels very betrayed by that. He dislikes his life on Tatooine in general, feeling that life is passing him by. He dislikes that his aunt and uncle won’t tell him much about his father. His only pleasure in life is getting to go into town, which his uncle forbids as often as possible.

FRIENDS: Luke mentions only Biggs Darklighter by name, and Biggs already left to join the Rebellion.

ENEMIES: None that he’s aware of, at first. Later he discovers that he’s a major enemy of the Empire in general and of Darth Vader in particular.

DESCRIBE CHARACTER'S HOUSE/DWELLING/POSSESSIONS: Luke has lived, up to now, in a bland, functional desert farm dwelling. He’s used to high winds, sand in everything, and a landscape full of flat nothing. He has had no luxuries in his life. He knows how to live practically, even though he hates it. His favorite toy left over from childhood is a model spaceship. Other than that, he enjoys tinkering with the tools in his uncle’s workshop. If left on his own he probably would be very creative with them. As it is, he’s limited to fixing and maintaining farm equipment and droids.

SPECIAL TALENTS (NOT SUPERHUMAN): Luke is an exceptional speeder driver and shows all the traits of an excellent star pilot. He’s smart despite being naïve about the world. Events later demonstrate that he’s exceptionally brave.

SUPERHUMAN POWERS/ABILITIES

Mental: Luke discovers later that he has the inborn psi abilities of a Jedi, inherited from his father.

Physical: None, except those made possible by his Jedi psi talents.

PROFESSION: Kid, then Jedi-in-training.

INCOME: None, much to his annoyance.

SOCIAL STATUS: Nil at first, much to his annoyance. But by the end of the movie, he is acknowledged as a galaxy-class hero.

MILITARY BACKGROUND: None. Later, he learns a few things from Kenobi, but not too much.

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN CHARACTER'S LIFE: The death of his parents, especially his father, long ago. The murder of his aunt and uncle that occurs at the beginning of the film, for which he feels responsible.

AMBITIONS/DESIRES IN LIFE: At first, to join the Rebellion against the evil Empire. Later, to become a Jedi in order to fight the Empire with greater skills.

 

I’m not George Lucas, so my character chart certainly isn’t perfect. But you get the idea of how it defines the character. The more you write, the more you’ll know.