How to Become an Actor or Actress - Career Path and Job Description

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What is an Actor/Actress?

Actors are professional entertainers who play roles in plays, movies, and television shows. While many aspiring actors have visions of becoming a star, the day to day grind isn’t always as glamorous as you might think. Actors, especially when they're starting out, often spend a lot of time looking for new roles, reading at auditions, training and learning their craft, networking with those who can help them succeed or find opportunities, building a portfolio, and working side jobs since much of this preparation and early work in the career is unpaid. Even when you find an opportunity, you will often be competing with hundreds or thousands of performers. You may start out in work behind the scenes, as extras, or in smaller guest roles.

While earning a degree may help you develop your craft and prepare you for a career as a working actor, there is more than one way to become successful in this role, and that’s part of what makes it so difficult. It’s a competitive field, where people face a lot of rejection, low paying work, and irregular scheduling. Education can pay off - though there are no promises. After all, even beginner actors are expected to know the industry basics, from auditioning to being in front of a camera.

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Steps to Take to Become an Actor/Actress

The steps toward becoming an actor or actress aren’t quite so clearly defined as becoming a nurse or a dentist. There’s no minimum education requirement. However, those who pursue formal training may have more options available after completing their education. In some cases, aspiring actors might take classes at a theater company's acting conservatory or take acting lessons.

Others pursue acting as a college major, or they study filmmaking or theater. In any case, here is an example of how you might systematically approach gaining the skills needed to become a working actor.

Step 1: Explore Acting
Step 2: Take Acting Classes
Step 3: Earn a Bachelor's Degree
Step 4: Audition and Develop Skills
Step 5: Find an Agent

Step 1: Explore

Vague, yes. Many actors are drawn to acting from a young age, but if you’re new to it, you might start by exploring your interest through local theater, movies, or TV shows. You might feel a natural connection to storytelling or a fascination with performance.

You can also study different actors and performances to understand the art of acting. Pay attention to how actors use their body, voice, and emotions to convey a character's story. This may just mean you watch a bunch of movies, but it's ok to struggle for your art.

The path toward many acting careers starts in high school performing in plays or musicals. So, if you’re still in high school, it might be worth it to seek out drama club, audition for a play, or take part in stage and costume design or stage or studio lights. In the beginning, the aim is to get used to being on stage, memorizing lines, and performing for an audience.

Step 2: Take Classes

For those past high school age, you might want to consider enrolling in a few classes at a local university or auditioning for community theater to start. It doesn’t matter so much where you get this experience, but if you’re considering a more formal education path, you’ll want to hone some basic skills, like blocking and memorizing lines. Most college theater programs will require an entrance audition, so you’ll need to be prepared to listen to ideas and portray characters as needed.

Step 3: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

A college education is not required to become an actor, but many performers benefit from more formal training. Classes might include production, dance, history, and acting, which all serve as a strong foundation for work you might encounter down the line. Additionally, a bachelor’s degree in performing arts will function as a fail-safe of sorts, allowing you to not only hone the skills required as a professional actor but work in other professions as well. Consider studying film or writing as well, if your ultimate goal is a lucrative career in entertainment.

Step 4: Audition and Develop Skills

After graduating, it’s time to hit the pavement and start going to auditions. Beyond trying to book jobs, though, it might be smart to take improv classes to develop your skills and network with other actors. Attend workshops, events, and keep honing your craft. The point is to act as much as possible, both to stay in top form and build up a resume.

Actors need to get as much experience as possible to improve their range and land more roles. Unlike other trades, where specialization often outweighs versatility, an actor can benefit a great deal by being able to move from comedy to drama, disappearing into different kinds of characters. Future actors need to create ideas and portray characters in theater

Step 5: Find an Agent

It’s not mandatory to have an agent, but it can make your career a lot easier. Agents handle a lot of the business tasks an actor might not be so keen on dealing with themselves. They’ll schedule auditions, seek out opportunities, and negotiate contracts on your behalf. Many agents also have connections in the industry, meaning you’ll have someone on your side that can help get you “in” with the right people.

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What Might You Do?

Actors and actresses portray characters in plays, commercials, shows, and movies. Some actors start out as extras or in commercials, and those who are successful find themselves center stage. While some actors never become stars, they can still earn a good living as character actors, becoming well-known without ever being the main star of a piece.

Acting is a challenging skill to master, as is breaking into the industry. Actors must memorize lines, practice frequently, and be able to work with all kinds of people. In the beginning, much of an actor’s job is auditioning and you will probably need to develop a thick skin and a lot of patience.

Skills to Acquire

Actors don’t typically become a success overnight, and rarely does someone ever become a star after being seen or 'discovered' in one smaller production. As such, you’ll want to make sure that you develop a wide range of skills. Your acting range is essential, but so is understanding how the business works. It might also be smart to pursue behind the scenes work, allowing you to understand that side of things and giving you the chance to network with a wide variety of people in the industry.

Here's a quick rundown of the skills you’ll need to be successful in this career:

Ability to memorize lines
Creativity—actors need to portray characters motivations and feelings in an authentic and interesting manner
An understanding of a range of acting techniques
Ability to follow directions and work with others
Knowledge of how to research a character’s personality traits and situation to bring the role to life
In some cases, actors must learn how to play an instrument (or seem like they are) or perform stage fighting sequences for a part
Actors need to be able to put together a scene for auditions quickly
They’ll need a thick skin and the resilience to keep auditioning despite frequent rejections
Physical stamina—actors must speak clearly and portray characters for hours on end. Stage actors, particularly, need to be in good shape so that they can maintain their energy for the duration of a production. TV and film actors also often work long hours beginning early in the morning and going well into the night.

Alternative Paths

Becoming an actor or actress does not mean that you have to follow a specific path. There’s no formula for success, which is part of what makes this such a challenging career to break into. There are no minimum educational requirements to consider, so one could seek out auditions and potentially book gigs. However, to be successful, you will need to have some basic acting skills like the ability to memorize lines, follow blocking instructions, and understand how to behave on camera.

If you don’t go to school to become an actor, you can sign up for classes at a college, university, or an independent acting school.

Actor and Actress Careers & Salary

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Where Might You Work?

According to the BLS, 26% of actors are self-employed and 13% work for a theater company. In most cases, you’ll work on projects of varying lengths in a range of environments. Work assignments are typically pretty short, and actors must continuously be looking for their next job. One assignment could last for a day, while the next might last a few months. Consistent gigs might take the form of a long-term contract with a touring company, a starring role in a television series, or moving to a tourist town that always has shows going.

As you might imagine, work hours are irregular. Few actors work full-time, year-round, but when they do book work, they often work 12 or more hours at a time, on weekends, holidays, early mornings, or late at night. Film and television actors may be required to travel to work on location, and may spend months on location, away from family and friends.

In addition to time spent on paid work, actors must consider the time investment of auditioning, networking, and developing their skills. As they get started in this industry, actors often have a day job that pays the bills on top of learning lines, taking classes, and trying to land their next role. Some actors teach acting classes as a part time job. Those considering this career path must weigh all of the hidden work that happens before making it big.

Job Opportunities

If you want to become an actor, you’re probably dreaming of a starring role on the silver screen or in a Broadway play. But often, real life isn’t quite so glamorous. New actors might work on cruise lines or in theme parks, regional commercials, or as a historical re-enactor. A few potential options, both for those starting out and those further along in their career, include:

Voice Actor:
Voice actors can lend their voice to commercials, video games, animated series, or feature films. Like live-action actors, there’s no educational requirement to become a voice actor, but many people who get into this profession have acting training and have done some form of vocal coaching. Most of the work is done in a recording studio and, like any acting job, can be either a one-off recording session or a long-term arrangement. Most voice actors are self-employed and must regularly audition to secure work.

Extra:
Extras are non-speaking members of a film, television, or stage production. They often stand or walk in the background of a scene. Extras don’t make a ton of money—it comes out to about $100-200 a day, but many actors work as extras to gain experience or earn some extra cash between gigs.

Director:
Directors are responsible for bringing a written script to life and serve as a creative force that translates everything, from sound to the style and structure of the film, into a cohesive piece of work. Their primary duties involve casting, script editing, and composition, but they also need to work within the confines of a budget.

Directors advise actors on how to portray a character including input on whether they use dialects or accents, adopt different body language, or how they react to a particular situation. Someone with a background in acting may be able to bring unique insights into the director’s chair. However, the most critical skills are a strong creative vision, technical knowledge, and the ability to make quick decisions and be a strong leader with excellent interpersonal skills.

Producer:
Producers manage and oversee the creative process in movies, television shows, commercials, and stage production. Often producers work for a network or production company, but many work on a freelance or contract basis, too. Producer duties span a diverse set of tasks. They may be responsible for setting budgets, selecting projects, scheduling, and hiring director and crew.

Salaries

Occupation	Entry-Level	Mid-Career	Late-Career
Actor/Actress	$53,864	$97,591	$62,105
Voice-Over Talent	$67,500	$68,500	$100/Hr
Film Director	$68,984	$74,177	$150,100
Film/Video Editor	$41,332	$59,361	$71,756
Video Producer	$45,366	$64,483	$69,575
Audio/Video Equipment Technician	$46,642	$54,849	$65,613

**Salary info provided by PayScale

Job Outlook

Again, there’s no educational requirement for becoming an actor, but pay and opportunities are often dependent on skill and connections. According to BLS statistics, those who earn their living as actors have usually received some level of formal training. It’s not so clear cut, though. That training doesn’t necessarily correspond with pay — for example, earning a master’s degree in performing arts doesn’t ensure a higher pay grade.

The BLS also reports that actors earn a mean hourly wage of $20.50, though wages exist across a range of pay scales. It’s certainly possible to make a healthy living, but it may mean continually putting in the legwork to secure gigs. The agency also found that actors who joined unions received more prominent roles and paychecks compared to those who did not. It’s worth pointing out that many casting directors will only work with actors from SAG/AFTRA. However, members are required to pay annual dues, which could be a significant burden for newer actors who might not get paid much.

Advancing From Here

Advancing as an actor or actress is all about landing leading roles and earning more money for their craft. It’s not like starting an entry-level job and working your way up to manager. To start landing gigs, you’ll need to know how to audition, which is one area where an education can serve you well. It might be worth it to invest in workshops that teach the skills you need or further develop the skills you learned in school.

Sure, you might start at the bottom, working as an extra, then maybe you’ll book commercials. From there, you might land a small recurring role on a television show, eventually leading to more significant roles. Often that big paycheck comes after years of taking work with a wide range of pay rates. Success, from a realistic standpoint, means finding steady work and continuing to hone your craft.

Actors often advance by improving their reputation by completing roles successfully. As they gain experience, they’ll move on to more challenging parts and better-paying jobs. You can boost your profile by performing well and by demonstrating that you are professional, easy to work with, and reliable.

In other cases, actors might work in the industry for a time before deciding they’d like to become a producer, a writer, or a director. While moving from in front of the camera to behind the scenes is a shift, many actors end up moving into these roles and finding success.

As with any field, networking is essential, too. You can join casting agencies and ensure that you speak with other people in your industry. While there’s no one way to break into the acting game, or advance your career, making connections is one of the best things you can do for your job.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many films could you appear in?

Around 70% of people that acted in a movie never acted in another movie. Only around 8.4% of actors have been in more than five movies. Fewer than 1% of actors will be in more than 30 movies.

How old might you be when you receive your first on-screen film credit?

The average male actor is around 30 years old when their first film is released. Women are 25 years old on average when their first film is released.

How do the film careers of men and women differ?

Men make up a higher percentage of actors in the workforce particularly stage actors. Women make up just 30% of all actors.

How long is the average film career?

The average career length for an actor is around 28 years.

What qualities should you have?

An actor needs charisma, confidence, intelligence, strong imagination, and hard work.

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Becoming an Actor or Actress Careers & Salary Outlook