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In illusionistic Western
theatre,
breaking character occurs when an
actor ceases to maintain the illusion that they are identical with the character they are portraying. This is a more acceptable occurrence while in the process of rehearsal but is considered unprofessional while actively performing in front of an audience or camera (except when the act is a deliberate breaking of the
fourth wall). If the breaking of character is particularly serious, it is considered
corpsing, which in film or television would normally result in an abandonment of that
take.