Actor

Actors work in theatre, film, television and radio. They use their voice, body actions and imagination, to create characters and tell the story that the scriptwriter or playwright has written.

Work activities

Actors work in live stage performances and/or film, television and radio. Their job is to bring to life the role they are playing, as effectively as possible. Much of their time is spent learning lines and in rehearsals. Some actors also spend time researching the character they are to play. Often, actors draw on their own emotions and experiences, to make their performances as convincing as possible. They sometimes have to change their voice and appearance for a role. Actors often work long hours, including working at night. It is not uncommon for actors on location to have to wait long periods for the right conditions (e.g. lighting) before they can perform.

Work is not always reliable for actors. They may spend this time doing temporary work, learning parts for auditions and attending drama and vocal technique classes. They can sometimes be in competition with hundreds of other actors when trying for a part. In theatre, actors sometimes perform two shows a day (matinee and evening). While on tour, they stay in temporary accommodation and can spend weeks away from home. In film and television, an actor’s workload can include early starts, late finishes, weekend work and working on public holidays. On location, they are likely to work in all weather conditions.

Personal qualities and skills

As an actor, you need to be:

• Extremely committed and determined.
• Self-confident and able to take rejection.
• Versatile and flexible.
• A good memory, to be able to learn and remember your lines.
• Good communication and people skills.
• Good teamworking skills.
• Actors are sometimes also talented singers and dancers.

Future skills needs have been identified for this industry. These are:

• Creative skills, in areas of growth such as street arts.
• Technical skills.
• Leadership and management skills.
• Education and community development skills.
• Fund-raising skills.

Pay and opportunities 

Salaries for actors vary widely, depending on the area of acting they work in and the type of contract they have. Equity, the acting union, recommends minimum wage levels for all forms of acting. Details are available on their website.

Hours of work vary depending on the type of work they are doing. In the theatre, they may be required to perform at matinees, as well as evening performances. In television and film, they spend long periods waiting around, whilst sets or locations are set up. Periods of unemployment are common within the acting profession.

This is an overcrowded profession, with many more candidates for jobs than vacancies. Membership of Equity can be considered proof of professional experience, although it is not a requirement for working as a professional.

Opportunities for actors occur with employers in theatre, TV, film and radio. Travel can be local, national or international, and actors on tour or on film location can spend extended periods away from home.

Many actors are self-employed. Most spend more time out of acting than in it, and therefore must be able to cope financially and emotionally with long periods out of work.

Where are vacancies advertised?

The Stage (weekly and online) advertises acting jobs and auditions. While most professional actors have agents who arrange work for them, some find their own work by approaching theatres and production companies for opportunities to audition. Acting job vacancies are also advertised on the StarNow website.

Entry routes and training 

The usual route towards a career as an adult performer is to attend an acting course at a drama school. There are drama schools at various locations across the UK. Entry to drama school is competitive. Applicants are selected by interview and audition (and usually have to pay audition fees).

You will need to satisfy drama schools that you have sufficient ability to study at this level. This may be through formal qualifications, such as A-levels, or relevant experience (or both). The majority of accredited drama school courses last for two or three years and lead to either a BA degree in acting or a recognised diploma. Successful completion will also entitle you to membership of Equity. Some drama schools offer postgraduate courses for would-be actors who already have a degree. University-based degree courses in acting or performing arts (with acting as a major study area) are available and are another possible route into acting.

Actors often take up additional training, in singing and dancing for example, to help improve their chances when auditioning for parts. Lessons in elocution and public speaking can help to develop oral skills. Practical acting experience can be gained from involvement in amateur dramatics and local drama workshops.

Some successful actors move into directing or production work.

Qualifications

Drama school entry requirements for courses vary between drama schools. Some drama schools base their selection procedure entirely on auditions, while others prefer to select students who do well at audition and have qualifications that are suitable for entry to a degree course. The majority of drama schools agree that a good education is important. Check drama school prospectuses/websites for details of specific requirements.

For entry to a degree course in acting or drama, the usual requirement is:

• Two to three A-levels.
• GCSEs at grades 9-4 in three other subjects. Drama or theatre studies are useful.

Other qualifications, such as an Edexcel (BTEC) level 3 National qualification or the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma may also be considered. You will often need to audition to enter a degree course.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Many successful entrants have acted in areas such as fringe and community theatre.

Some colleges and drama schools relax entrance requirements for applicants with relevant paid or unpaid performing/acting experience.

You may be entitled to a Dance and Drama Award (DaDA) to help with fees and living costs at one of 17 private dance and drama schools.

Several charities, including: The Actors’ Benevolent Fund, Acting for Others and the John Thaw Foundation can sometimes offer financial support.

Related careers

• Dancer
• Disc jockey
• Dramatherapist
• Model
• Musician
• Presenter – broadcasting
• Singer