Some people have it in them and some needs some coaching to coax it out. Usually, it's the 'natural' actors who are easier to relate to than the schooled ones.
I know Gary has a theater company.
As for Melina: She graduated from Firestone High School in Akron and attended the Ohio State University, where she competed in synchronized swimming and was first runner-up in the Miss Ohio pageant. She transferred to Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where she graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theater. Gosh, she's pretty smart. I'm with Hammerback, she's pretty as well as smart.
I don't think Carmine had very serious theater training (as in a whole college course and such). He had his eyes set on being a baseball player -- so he's the athlete of the bunch.
When Hill said in an interview that Sheldon Hawkes is the smartest guy on the show... he's not kidding: Harper graduated magna cum laude from Brown University (A.B. 1998) and also graduated with a J.D. from Harvard Law School and a master's degree in Public Administration from Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He is a member of Boston's Black Folk's Theater Company.
Eddie's another one of those high school theater/drama geeks. Just so happens, he's hot hahahaha.... not to mention, talented.
Belknap received her B.A. from Middlebury College in Vermont, and a masters in Acting from the American Conservatory Theater.
*whoo... long post.