The actor looked at the camera and broke the fourth wall.
fourth wall
idiomThe imaginary invisible wall at the front of the stage in a proscenium theatre, through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play.
Origin
first recorded 18th c.A reference to the three walls of a box set, with the fourth wall being the imaginary wall separating the performers from the audience. Coined by philosopher and art critic Denis Diderot in 1758 and thus a calque of French quatrième mur.
The play became much funnier when the main character started talking directly to the audience, effectively breaking the fourth wall.
By having the protagonist acknowledge the audience's presence, the director cleverly dismantled the fourth wall to challenge the viewer's passive role in the narrative.
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back to the wall
A very difficult situation with no beneficial options available for action.
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balls to the wall
With maximum effort or commitment.
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bang one's head against a brick wall
To waste effort on a futile project.
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blue wall of silence
Strict secretiveness maintained by the members of a police force with respect to information which might be contrary to their interests, especially information concerning questionable police actions.
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break the fourth wall
To apparently communicate with reality directly, such as when characters of literature comment on the existence of a reader.
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Chinese Wall
An information barrier within an organization, designed to ensure internal confidentiality; frequently used to prevent conflicts of interest.
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drive someone up the wall
To make a person very angry or frustrated; to infuriate.
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fly on the wall
A quiet, non-participating, or unseen observer; an eavesdropper or witness.