General Job Description

Actors and actresses are responsible for performing dramatic or comedic roles in stage, radio, television, film and advertisement related productions. They must communicate a character and/or situations to an audience through speech, body language and movement, according to their director’s instructions.

 

Most actors are self-employed, and a large part of their job involves attending auditions to get acting roles, and negotiating their performance contracts. 

 

 

Typical Job Duties

• Spend a significant amount of time building a network of entertainment industry contacts, including casting directors and producers

• Develop a portfolio of work, including photographs and a list of prior roles

• Audition for roles in theatre, television or film productions

• Portray roles in video or motion picture productions, television shows, theatre productions, radio dramas, commercials and other productions

• Study and rehearse lines and actions for roles

• May be required to sign and dance, depending on the role

• Liaise with directors, producers and other actors

 

 

Career Paths for Becoming an Actor

There is no set path for becoming an actor; successful actors have taken many different routes into this highly competitive field. Many have pursued formal post-secondary training, while others have not.

 

Some actors go into the field directly, whereas others get into the field from other related areas, such as signing, dancing, modeling, and stand-up comedy. Most actors however, regardless of the path the take, try to get as much acting experience and training as they can, in order to hone their skills and increase their job prospects.

 

Whichever path you end up taking to become an actor, and no matter how successful you become, it’s important to realize that an acting career almost always incorporates periods of unemployment, underemployment and supplementary employment.

 

 

Experience Needed

It's important to gain as much acting experience as you can, as it allows you to perfect your craft.

 

Gaining experience will not only allow you to improve your acting skills, it will also help you meet other people in the industry. Networking with those you meet is a great way to get your name out there and open doors to future jobs. In addition to these benefits, gaining experience as an actor allows you to add to your resume. 

 

There are several ways you can gain experience as an actor, both paid and unpaid. One of the most common ways to get your feet wet is to join your school or local theatre group. From there you can try to land small parts in television or radio commercials, or small television or film productions.

 

Alternatively, or in addition to the above efforts, you can try joining local comedy group (such as an improve group), or you can try finding work as a holiday camp, cruise ship or resort entertainer.

 

 

Skills Needed to Succeed

Becoming an actor is more than just pretending to be someone else; it takes a finely tuned skill set to make a living from this craft. These skills include:

 

Creativity and Imagination: Actors must be able to convincingly portray the feelings and motives of their characters, in order to portray them in the most compelling way.

 

Versatility and Adaptability: Actors require the ability to learn quickly and adapt to a director’s interpretations.

 

Memorization Skills: Actors need excellent memorization skills, as they must memorize lines for an audition, and before filming begins or a show opens. It is not uncommon for an actor’s lines to be revised at the last minute, and actors must be able to memorize those changes on short notice.

 

Physical Stamina: Actors need enough physical stamina to endure working long days, such as when filming a television show or movie, or when doing live performances (which may include several performances per day).  They must also often work under hot stage or studio lights, and do so while wearing heavy costumes, and must be able to overcome those conditions during their performance.

 

Physical Coordination: Oftentimes actors must have enough physical coordination and dexterity to perform predetermined, sometimes complex, movements with other actors in a scene.

 

Reading Skills: When auditioning for roles, an actor must be able to read a script and properly interpret how a writer has described their character.

 

Speaking Skills: In order for the audience to understand them, actors must be able to pronounce words properly and speak clearly, all while projecting their voice.

 

 

Characteristics & Traits Needed 

The following traits can help actors achieve longevity in their careers by allowing them to take enjoyment from their jobs, and by helping them to persevere through hard times:

 

• A strong imagination and a creativity personality

• A natural talent for creating roles and characters

• Patience, and the ability to persevere when looking for work

• Able to handle rejection 

• A willingness to accept, and learn from direction and feedback

• Punctuality and reliability

• A commitment to continuous skill development

• Enjoy working with others in an ensemble

• Should take enjoyment from having variety and creativity in work