How to Become an Actor or Actress

Career advice on how to become an actor, get started in your acting career and achieve your dream of becoming a working actor.

Do you have a desire to perform? Do you enjoy entertaining friends or imitate life and people around you? If so, you may already have what it takes to break into the professional acting business.

To become a working actor, all it takes is a bit of research, a passion for acting and patience to wait for your chance to break into the show business.

“I have wanted to act for as long as I can remember. This guide gives me all the answers I couldn’t find anywhere else. It tells you how to find out about auditions, how to get an agent, how to meet casting directors and a lot more.”

Cool Facts about Being an Actor or Actress

The most obvious benefit when you become an actor is the chance to pursue your dream career and become a superstar, but there are others:

• Self satisfaction when you do a great job.

• You will meet other actresses, actors, and famous people.

• You get to do what you are passionate about for a living.

• You will get to see yourself on the silver screen.

• The money is very good if you are a popular actor or actress.

• You will get to go to glamorous parties and wear designer outfits.

• You will likely get to travel to some exotic places for shooting.

• You will get praised for your work and build a loyal fan base.

Steps To Become an Actor or Actress

When you decide on this career, you should lay out a plan that will guide you to how to become an actor, and meet your goal.

First and foremost, you will want or move to live in a major city. Living in a major metropolitan area can give you opportunities in independent film communities or live theaters that will help build your resume. While it is still possible to find acting work in a small town, however, the fact is it is not easy to get any major recognition for it.

The best actors study their craft, so as any aspiring actor or actress, you need to take some acting classes. Ask around for references from those actors you admire before enrolling.

Have some professional headshots done and a resume written. Keep revising your resume and adding new work, as well as dropping earlier projects (like school theater.) Read trade papers like Variety, Backstage, and Dramalogue, for casting calls and keep up with the internet sites that post auditions as well. Send headshots and notes directly to producers and directors requesting acting auditions.

Accept all invitations to industry auditons, parties and events. You never know who you will meet – and who you know is vital in this industry.

Income Potential of an Actor

More than almost any other profession, this is a completely wide open range. Beginning actresses and film extras might be paid just a few hundred dollars. However, the flip side of that is that A List Hollywood actresses (think Sandra Bullock and Angelina Jolie) regularly pull in $15 to $25 million per film.

In between those two extremes, you will find daytime television actress making $72,000 their first year, and up to $5,000 per episode for a well-known, seasoned actress like Susan Lucci.

Likewise, television actors in comedy or drama shows start out at the low end. Their pay can go up, depending upon the success of the show and their star power. For instance, Charlie Sheen earns $825,000 per episode of Two and a Half Men, and Mariska Hargitay earns $400,000 per episode of Law & Order.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not move to Hollywood and expect to land a major film role. It takes time and perseverance.

• Stress and lack of sleep are constants in the industry.

• You must be able to handle criticism and rejection. There will be a lot of no’s before you get a yes when you become an actress.

• You will need a “day job” until you get your break, to account for periods when you have no work, and no flow of acting money.

• When you do get a role, be aware that there can be long hours of rehearsals, and sometimes 70 and 80 hour work weeks.

• Personal relationships are often difficult because of the schedule an actress keeps, and traveling is frequent.

• Always be on your game. That means you need to always look your best, and keep your attitude optimistic and ready.

How to Become an Actress???

Have you always dreamed of becoming an actress? Imagined being wrapped in the glitz, the glamor... Constantly thought about that feeling of pure and raw energy coursing through you when you deliver a dialog? Or felt the exhilaration that you would, when the spot lights focus on to your face? The definitive moment when the director says 'Action!' and you walk slowly and surely over to where the suave lead waits for you... Sigh! If only all this could come true. Who says it can't? Just follow our lead on how to become an actress, and soon enough you'll be prepared to enthrall the world with your performances. So you want to learn how to become an actress right? Read on.

Let's get one thing straight right now, becoming an actress is not easy. It cannot happen with the click of a finger. It requires hard work and a lot of talent. Many girls dream of being spotted at a mall by an agent, who then goes on to hire them and they become great actresses. First of all, agents do not keep scrounging the street all the time for talent, and two, (surprise surprise!) that is not the only route to becoming an actress. There isn't any point depending on fate in that manner. Instead we should focus on things that are in our own hands,

Becoming an Actress

Get Perfect

If you want to become an actress with no experience, it won't work. You HAVE to know your craft to perfection. If you aren't confident of acting, do everything you can to become perfect first. Take acting and dance classes. Maybe even voice modulation or speech classes. If you don't have the money to spend for classes, then try borrowing acting tapes from your local library. Read as many books as you can on acting as well. Learn the different types of acting. These are some of the most crucial points to follow for how to become an actress. Read more on acting tips.

Practice

Practice whenever you get the opportunity. Stand in front of the mirror and study yourself. A better option is to record yourself and then view the footage to know what your strengths and weaknesses are so that you can hone or improve them respectively. Practice with a group if possible. This will allow you to learn important skills about sharing space with other actors and how to play off their dialogs.

Become Active

Start to put yourself out there. Take part in community plays, school theatrics, etc. There is a chance someone might notice you. Or that you might meet people who can help you with your career. And the best thing is that it will help you to develop your acting skills.

Brush Up on Dialogs

Learn and prepare several monologues. Perfect these dialogs and the technique you will use to deliver them. Sometimes at auditions, the producers might ask you to exhibit something. At this time, having a monologue ready will help. It will show them that you were well prepared and your versatility will be seen through the dialogs.

Focus on Appearance

Learn to focus on your appearance. Try not to be shabby and unkempt. It is not necessary to look glamorous and put on a layer of make up every time you leave the house, but make sure that you look good. Eat well and keep fit. Highlight your good features. This will give you confidence and style. 

Prepare a Portfolio

Get a portfolio shot with maximum focus on head shots. This is what will help the producers remember you. The best option is to have your resume printed on the back of the head shots. This will help the producers in knowing everything about you. Read more on beauty tips - looking thinner in photographs.

Prepare a Resume

Make sure that you prepare a resume that you update regularly. It should mention your education, acting experience and credentials, along with rewards received and your contact information. It is necessary that you carry this on all your auditions. This will help the producers to know you better and lend you a very professional appeal.

Acting Records

Make a collection of all the acting gigs that you have done. This will help you to showcase your versatility as far as acting is concerned. At an audition when there are so many others vying for the part, your montage of acting might help to distinguish you from the rest. So keep it handy and it might just turn out to be the key in starting your career.

Networking

Networking and building contacts is crucial for this field. More often than not, one will get a job through contacts in this field. That is why you need to learn to get noticed and staying in the limelight. Find out where your chances of getting a job are maximum and if possible move there. Try and get to know people of that field and tell them to keep you updated if any opportunity shows up.

Hire an Agent

If possible, hire an agent. This goes a long way because there is someone else who is managing your career for you. He will help you in making contacts and tell you about all the auditions that are to happen. Some agencies do not accept actors for auditions, unless they come through an agent.

Audition

Visit as many auditions as you can. Even if it is not something that you are interested in, go for it. This will help you to become comfortable with the audition process on the whole. Other than this reason, auditions are the only way to get noticed, and up your chances for a gig. 

Yes, it's not an easy process to becoming an actress and even though we have all the answers on how to become an actress, fate plays an important role too. But perfecting ourselves is what we can do, and we shouldn't shy from that. So how about it then? Ready to become an actress? All the best!