If you have always loved to entertain and consider yourself born to perform, then a career in acting may be just the thing for you.
Actors and actresses are responsible for expressing the ideas of producers and directors and portraying characters. There are a wide range of acting opportunities available, including theatre, commercials, television, and movies. However, despite there being lots of opportunities, it is a fiercely competitive market with lots of talent.
Everything you do as an actor ends up taking you somewhere else. All of the emotions that you have to go through whether it’s loving a girl or laughing outrageously in something hilarious. Everything I’ve ever done in a film, it requires this getting to some sort of emotional reality that is contrary to the actual setting that you’re in.
| ID | Job Title | Gender | Age | Earnings | City & State | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33835 | Actress | Female | 32 | $75,000 | Beacon, NY | 01/01/2010 |
| 33269 | Mo-Cap Actress | Female | 27 | $40,000 | Astoria, NY | 01/01/2010 |
You see them on your television screen. They star in your favorite movies, and you may even be their biggest fan. Actors and actresses are idolized in our society, but do you really know whats behind the glitz and the glamour?
Well, we have both good and bad news. The road for each actor looks very different. Of course, we are familiar with the celebrities like George Clooney and Angelina Jolie. They star in the biggest films, make plenty of money, and live extremely lavish lifestyles. Unfortunately, the vast majority of actors and actresses do not end up as ‘big time’ as these two, but that definitely doesn’t mean that you cannot make a living pursuing your dream.
There are a wide range of acting opportunities available, including theatre, commercials, television, and movies. Regardless of where an actor or actress works, and regardless of how famous they are, their job is to express ideas and portray characters. They do this by interpreting a script to entertain or inform an audience. The typical duties and responsibilities of an actor and actress include:
‘An actor at their very core are story tellers. Art, acting and performance are an expression of life – our cultures, our worries, our love, our strengths, our weaknesses and our existential curiosity. It is political and spiritual in equal measure. It can stimulate debate, educate, dissect life or rise up against oppression. It is relevant because our culture and our art is our defining characteristic from the other animals we share the world with,’ explained Neil Rawlinson, a Creative Projects Manager.
In the present time, there is a huge amounts of political and social changes which bring a lot of uncertainty to our lives. We need actors and actresses to act as storytellers and create work which allows us all to be better connected and better understood.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the overall employment of actors and actresses is projected to grow 3 percent from 2019 to 2029 about as fast as the average for all occupations. This employment growth is expected because the number of internet-only platforms is expected to increase over the coming years, creating a demand for more shows and thus a demand for m0re actors and actresses.
Small and medium-sized theaters may have difficulty getting funding and, as a result, actors and actresses will have a harder time finding work in this industry. Large theaters have a more stable source of funding and should therefore have more opportunities available.
As a whole, actors will face intense competition for jobs. Most acting roles, no matter how minor, have hundreds of actors auditioning for them!
Many aspiring actors begin by participating in school plays or local theater productions. In television and film, actors usually start out in smaller roles or independent movies and work their way up to bigger productions
Although some actors and actresses can succeed in acting without getting a formal education, most actors acquire some formal preparation through a theater company’s acting conservatory or a university drama or theater arts program. Actors who do not have a college degree may take acting or film classes to learn their craft. Community colleges, acting conservatories, and private film schools typically offer these classes. Many theater companies also have education programs.
In truth, it takes many years of practice to develop the skills needed to become a successful actor/actress and they are never truly finish training. As an actor/actress, you will constantly be working to improve your acting skills throughout their career and are likely to continue to train through workshops, rehearsals, or mentoring by a drama coach.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median hourly wage for actors was $20.43 in May 2019. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $9.52, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $60.41 per hour. The top paying industries were ‘college, universities and professional schools’, where the median hourly salary was $21.11. The second highest paying industry was professional, scientific and technical services, where the median hourly wage was $19.27. Finally, theater companies and dinner theaters offered a median annual salary of $17.72.
The work hours for actors and actresses are extensive and irregular, and therefore the pay can be unstable. Actors and actress may have to travel a lot.
As a whole, autonomy and flexibility is likely to be low for actors and actresses. Competition is tough for roles, and actors may find themselves taking roles they wouldn’t have necessarily chosen. Furthermore, although actors and actresses can add a touch of their own creative flare, they must largely follow the script and the directors and producers instructions. Actors and actresses will also have little control over their schedule. In times when there is less work, actors may have a more flexible schedule. However, successful and thriving actors will spend a huge amount of time travelling from different sets, rehearsals and performances. Their schedule will mostly be determined by the show producer and/or director, and thus flexibility is low.
According to Zippia the best states to be an actor and actress, based on average annual salary and number of jobs available, are:
According to Zippia, the worst states to be an actor were South Dakota, Idaho, North Dakota, Wyoming and Montana.
24% of actor and actresses in the United States are self-employed workers. 13% of actors and actresses in the United States were employed by theater companies and dinner theaters, 5% were employed by colleges, universities and professional schools and 5% were employed by professional, scientific and technical services.
Work assignments are usually short, ranging from one day to a few months. Actors are often looking for another job to make a living and are frequently under the stress of having to find their next job. The conditions that actors and actresses perform in can be unpleasant. For example, they may have to perform outside in bad weather, under hot stage lights or whilst wearing uncomfortable costumes and/or make up.
Which personalities tend to succeed and thrive in Actor/Actress careers? Based on our research, there is a relatively strong positive correlation between the following personality types and Actor/Actress career satisfaction. This doesn’t mean that there aren’t many exceptions, of course, but if you fit into one of the following personality types then we suggest you give strong consideration to a career in Actor/Actress.
Successful actors and actress are likely to be the ENFP personality type. Bubbly and fun-loving, the ENFP loves to connect with all sorts of people. ENTP’s are energetic, warm and passionate. As extroverts, they are agile and engaging communicators with a strong artistic side; they use this to promote enthusiasm for new ideas, people and activities and encourage others to do the same. All of these things are key qualities for successful actors and actresses.
When actors or actress make it and become successful, they will undoubtable feel a high sense of accomplishment and mastery. However, the reality of the profession is that not many people make it as a hugely successful and famous actors/actress. A lot of the time, actors and actresses will be living from job to job. They might not always land the roles they want and may feel a lack of accomplishment or that they’ve not mastered the skills they need to truly thrive.
We need actors and actresses to help connect us all together. They create stories that inspire, unite and entertain the masses. Albeit, the work of an actor or actress won’t help those who are truly in need. But, it does help to tell stories and bring us all just that little bit closer together!
In general, the work hours for actors are extensive and irregular. Early morning, evening, weekend, and holiday work is common. Some actors work part time. Few actors work full time, and many have variable schedules. Those who work in theater may travel with a touring show across the country. Film and television actors may also travel to work on location. Overall, it is a career that can provide a difficult life fit.
Acting is a cut throat industry. The number one thing that all actors and actresses need is to be talented at acting. You cannot thrive as an actor if you cannot act, perform and entertain. As well as this, in order to truly thrive, actors and actresses will need qualities such as:
Obviously, those who are rubbish at acting will struggle to be a thriving actor/actress. Similarly, what really makes actors and actresses excel is their passion. Therefore, if you’re not passionate about films and entertainment then you are likely to struggle in this career.
Additionally, those seeking total financial stability and a job that is easy to fit around family life may struggle as an actor/actress. Lastly, if you’re not confident working with others and performing in front of large audiences, you are likely to struggle as an actor or actress.
It goes without saying that to become a successful actor/actress, you must be excellent at acting and have a true passion for performing. Without this, you will not survive in such a competitive and talented market. As well as this, actors and actresses will need skills and talents such as:
Although some actors and actresses can succeed in acting without getting a formal education, most actors acquire some formal preparation through a theater company’s acting conservatory or a university drama or theater arts program. Actors who do not have a college degree may take acting or film classes to learn their craft. Community colleges, acting conservatories, and private film schools typically offer these classes. Many theater companies also have education programs.
There are not specific certifications or licensure needed to be an actor or actress in the United States.
You see them on your television screen. They star in your favorite movies, and you may even be their biggest fan. Actors and actresses are responsible for expressing the ideas of producers and directors and portraying characters. There are a wide range of acting opportunities available, including theatre, commercials, television, and movies. However, despite there being lots of opportunities, it is still a fiercely competitive market.
If you want to become an actor/actress then we recommend taking college classes in drama or filmmaking to prepare for a career as an actor. Classes in dance or music may help as well. The best thing to do is to just gather experience from a young age.
Although no formal education is required to become an actor, many actors will receive formal training through a theater company or college and/or university.
It takes many years of practice to develop the skills needed to become a successful actor/actress and they are never truly finish training. An actor/actress, you will constantly be working to improve your acting skills throughout their career and are likely to continue to train through workshops, rehearsals, or mentoring by a drama coach.
Have a question about Actor/Actress careers? If so, our mentors would love to help! Just click on a mentor’s profile below and then fill out the “Ask a Question” form on that page. Your question will then be emailed to the mentor, who can then email you a reply.
| ID | Job Title | Gender | Age | Earnings | City & State | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33835 | Actress | Female | 32 | $75,000 | Beacon, NY | 01/01/2010 |
| 33269 | Mo-Cap Actress | Female | 27 | $40,000 | Astoria, NY | 01/01/2010 |
