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What They Do

Actors Career Video

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Simply put, actors act. They breathe life into roles, be they onstage, on the movie screen, on television or on the radio.

The job of an actor is to become the character they're acting. It's essential for an actor to memorize lines from a script. They must also take guidance from their director, the person who oversees how the script is put into action.

Some actors learn to sing or dance. This gives them more versatility in terms of jobs. For instance, they can act in commercials or do a Broadway musical.

Actors are usually considered to be self-employed. Each has an agent who helps them get auditions, which are like interviews. If the director or producer of a play or movie likes how the actor performs during the audition, the actor gets hired.

Once an actor is getting regular work in this field, they can join a guild or union. These bodies can negotiate better wages and also provide access to health insurance and other benefits a regular full-time job usually offers.

Actors have to live where the work is. Some actors travel as members of a touring company. They may tour around the country for six months at a time, performing in various venues.

In the U.S., the center for movie making is in Los Angeles. The capital for stage productions, including musicals, is New York.

There are thousands of actors in every big city. Most of them are called "struggling actors." That means they have to struggle to earn a living. Many have done a lot of training yet still find themselves spending more time waiting on tables than acting.

Acting is a very tough business to get into. It takes a thick skin and a lot of determination to make it.

Half the battle is just getting your foot in the door, says Petrea Burchard. Burchard, who lives in Los Angeles, has been acting for 25 years, in nearly every medium: movies, television, stage, voice-overs and improvisation.

Acting is competitive, so be prepared, she says. "Many actors spend most of their time auditioning, and little of their time acting. And those are the lucky ones," says Burchard. "The unlucky ones are spending their time just trying to get the auditions."

Actors with contracts for regular work, such as a TV series, have the comfort of knowing their work -- and paycheck -- is steady. Many other actors must rely on performing a part here and a commercial there, and often need a regular part-time job to ensure their income during slow periods.

But any acting experience helps, Burchard says. "Every acting job you do, from performing in children's shows to improv comedy in a night club to Shakespeare in the park, makes you a better actor," she says.

Actors have to have flexible schedules. If you're looking for a career that has regular, structured hours, acting isn't it!

As an actor, you may have 365 different employers during the course of a year. Each one of these jobs will have its own schedule. Or you may get a longer-term job on a movie set, or a fairly steady job on a television set.

Film and TV work usually involves long days. Things happen to stretch the days out, like weather delays or broken props. Even if everything's going well, a director isn't likely to stop and shut down thousands of dollars worth of equipment just because it's close to the end of the day.

Physical requirements vary in this field. If you're considering puppeteering or stunt performing, you'll need good physical health and abilities.

There are working actors with a range of physical and mental abilities and disabilities.

In other words, if you want to be an actor, you can give it a shot. Some disabilities are harder to handle than others, however. Someone with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) may have more problems remembering their lines -- and remembering lines is essential for any performer.

It may be hard work, but Burchard says you should never give up. "There are other professions that are more lucrative, less difficult and perhaps more rewarding," she says. "But I am a performer at heart. There's nothing like the feeling of putting real emotion of my own into lines of a script. I don't think I could have chosen any other profession."

Just the Facts

Want a quick overview of what this career is about?Check out Just the Facts for simple lists of characteristics.

At a Glance

Play a part in a production

  • The chances of becoming a star are slim
  • Actors have to live where the work is
  • An education is helpful, but experience is essential

Contact

  • Email Support

  • 1-800-GO-TO-XAP (1-800-468-6927)
    From outside the U.S., please call +1 (424) 750-3900

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