An Actor portrays a character with their physical presence, voice, and ability to emote through these tools. To bring a character to life, an Actor must analyze their motivations via the script, memorize the dialogue in it, work with the Director to further develop the character, and mine their own emotional life to authentically embody the figure they’re portraying in the script.

In addition to the work necessary for a particular role, Actors must always be preparing for their next job, as the nature of this profession is typically one of inconsistent work. Should an Actor gain a level of success or notoriety, they may also need to be present for promotional events and media tours to market their film or other project.

There are two types of “typical days” for an Actor: one where they are on set or actively preparing for a role they have booked and one when they are trying to secure future work. Depending on the day and success of an Actor, they may even do taped auditions in between breaks on set. Often, though, Actors can experience long stints between gigs while they continue to audition for roles.

How do Actors get started in the business? There’s no one single path to success, as Matthew McConaughey describes his own unique foot-in-the-door story.

While the life of an Actor will likely entail more time and commitment than the average nine-to-five job, an important part of this career is learning how to set personal boundaries. For instance, it’s easy to spend an entire week learning lines or otherwise preparing for a role to the exclusion of their other day-to-day needs until that meeting or audition has happened.

Actors may also spend considerable energy and time waiting for that phone call from their Agent or Manager about a potential callback or offer.

What may seem like a professional lull is actually a period of hard work with auditions, classes, and other activities to help improve an Actor’s chances of booking a gig.

An audition consists of reading sides for a scene and performing for a Casting Director and/or Casting Associate. In some cases, a Producer and/or the Director may also be present for the audition. In the post-Covid era, though, self-tapes have become a popular and convenient alternative to in-person auditions.

Actors work extensively with their Agents and Managers to develop their careers and land roles. When on set, the Actor’s main points of contact are the 1st Assistant Director, Director, and any PAs. The Makeup, Costume, and Sound Departments, Armorers, and Choreographers will also work closely with the Actors to get them ready for their scenes.

Working as an Actor means bringing to life the scenes and words of a script both in auditions and on set. However, for any Actor to achieve a long-lasting and successful career, they must find a work-life balance that supports their craft and allows them to maintain their mental and emotional health.

A well-known Actor can make several million dollars for a single role, though that figure tends to include backend points reliant on the success of a film. A recurring role on a network TV show can earn an Actor anywhere from $20,000 to $1 million should both the show and the Actor themselves be highly successful. Currently, Kevin Costner makes more than $1 million per episode on Yellowstone.

The rates for an Actor working on a cable show, streaming show, web series, or short film will be generally be less than that for a network show. In general, the pay scale for Actors can fluctuate greatly depending on the medium in which they are working. In some cases, an Actor might participate in a project for no or deferred pay.

Many Actors worry about how much they can make in this career, but it’s important to keep in mind as well how much you might spend as a performer. This video explains.

How much an Actor receives for his or her work will also depend on whether they are a non-union Actor or union Actor. A non-union Actor will earn less than a union Actor.

Payment rates likewise depend on the level of work being done. Someone with less than five lines will receive less pay than the star of the show. SAG-AFTRA daily minimum rates currently begin at $216 per day. In the case of the biggest stars, however, pay rates are much higher.

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Acting is a highly sought-after career.

Actors have more opportunities than ever before to pursue their craft through feature films, television, commercials, web series, shorts, theater, and other mediums. However, the truth is that it is a highly competitive field with a low margin of sustainable and financial success.

Many Actors can find fulfillment through their work but might still need to have another job to pay the bills. To be available for auditions and possible future gigs, many Actors seek flexible employment as restaurant servers, bartenders, rideshare drivers, and other similar types of positions, which generally do not provide ample financial security.

An Actor’s career success will also depend on where they are located.

Outside of voice work, which can potentially be done from any location, many Actors live or relocate to cities such as Los Angeles, New York City, and Atlanta that are entertainment hubs with an ongoing need for Actors. However, because these cities tend to attract many aspiring Actors, it also means an increase in competition for auditions and booked gigs.

The path to success in acting is one often littered with frustration and disappointment. Matt Damon describes his early days as a struggling Actor.

The success of any given Actor will also depend on a combination of their talent, training, and industry connections. In the case of the latter two, it’s important that an Actor continually hone their craft and keep developing relationships that could lead to future acting opportunities.

To create opportunities for themselves, many Actors become multi-hyphenates such as Writer-Actor or Actor-Producer. In addition to working on their acting skills, these individuals will also write material for themselves and/or produce it with the hope that it will attract the attention of Managers, Agents, Casting Directors, Directors, Producers, and anyone else who might be in a position to hire them for a role.

The career trajectory for an Actor varies widely. There isn’t a cookie-cutter path to making it and even getting the “big break” can come in a myriad of ways.

Many Actors begin their careers with formal training through a collegiate theater program. Not only is this a standard way to develop those acting chops, but also it can provide great opportunities for networking with other Actors. Did you know that Robin Williams and Christopher Reeve were roommates while attending The Juilliard School?

Some Actors choose to get their training outside of traditional higher education. Acting studios, improv studios, and more can be found in both large cities and small towns.

Whether or not an Actor decides to study the craft of acting, the only way to lay a foundation for future success is to get started doing it.

Many aspiring Actors start on the path to being professionals well before they graduate high school, which means it’s never too soon to begin honing those acting skills. Local theaters can also provide opportunities to build a resume of work regardless of your age.

Every on-set experience will be different. Actor Tom Holland shows at-home audiences what it’s like for him while in principal photography on Uncharted.

Given that your average smartphone has the capacity to capture high-quality footage, many emerging Actors collaborate with other creatives to make DIY short films and web series.

All of these paths can help an aspiring Actor build both expertise and confidence, but another key component of pursuing a successful career is finding representation. A Manager and Agent are two vital individuals who can help an Actor reach greater levels of success.

With the former helping to hone an Actor’s career path (and land auditions) and the latter focusing exclusively on getting auditions for talent, both can be instrumental for an Actor’s professional life.

From there, an Actor’s career path depends greatly on landing gigs that will get them noticed while also helping to develop their skillsets. But you don’t have to wait for a Manager, Agent, or Casting Director to get started on that path to success.

Tips on getting your acting career started:

• Take an acting class.
• Take an improv class.
• Read plays and screenplays. Watch movies.
• Create a profile on casting sites in your market.
• Get headshots.
• Create a reel so others can see your work.
• Reach out to potential Agents and Managers for representation.

As mentioned, a significant part of an Actor’s job is delving into the inner emotional world of the character they are playing. For this reason, it’s critical that an Actor be able to access the vulnerability and authenticity that will successfully bring that character to life.

As with any craft, it takes practice for an Actor to become proficient at portraying the many diverse characters they may be asked to play over the course of their career.

There’s also the adage of “acting is reacting,” which in large part means being able to work with and play off the emotions of other Actors.

Many Actors enjoy the opportunity to dive into a long and emotional monologue, but more often than not, a huge component of acting is being able to engage with the other professionals in a film, TV show, or other form of entertainment. Again, experience will help an emerging Actor hone these creative skills.

Outside of the skillsets that will help an Actor on set or on stage, they often need to be their own marketing and PR person as well. Given the level of competition in the acting field, it’s frequently up to an Actor to professionally position themselves prominently in order for Managers, Agents, and Casting Directors to notice their work.

That means being comfortable networking and even expanding skillsets beyond acting to include writing, directing, and producing to create projects that will hopefully get them on the radar of the individuals who can help them progress in their careers.

Acting is a craft that—when all is said and done—no Actor must train for to be successful at it. But as mentioned, many Actors do indeed seek out some type of formal training be it college, acting school, or another program to develop their skills.

The educational options for Actors have come a long way in the last 100 years. Once upon a time, an Actor simply got on stage or in front of the camera and started acting. Now there are many prestigious institutions that can help an Actor prepare for those roles. The Juilliard School, The Actors Studio, and the American Conservancy Theater are some prestigious examples among the many acting schools and programs across the United States.

When deciding between these institutions, aspiring Actors will likely find themselves attracted to a particular method of acting such as the Meisner Technique or Stanislavski System, which some schools will use as the foundation for their programs.

It’s likewise important to remember that formal training isn’t only for Actors just starting out in their careers. Many successful Actors continue to hone their skills through acting classes or with an acting mentor for the duration of their professional lives.

What kind of education do you need to set yourself up for success as an Actor? Take a look at this video to find out.

If an Actor decides to forego formal training, they can still develop their craft through on-the-job experience. Again, there’s no shortage of options. Many can find opportunities through student films, short films, community theater, web series work, and other more readily accessible jobs as they build their resume of work to more high-profile gigs.

However an Actor chooses to sharpen their skillsets, they must continually work on that all-important element of accessing the inner emotional world of the character they’re playing and bring them to life whether it be for a film, TV show, play, or other type of role.

SAG-AFTRA, the Actors’ union, was formed from the merger of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists in 2012 and represents approximately 160,000 film, television, voice, internet, and other types of Actors around the world.

There are a variety of online resources for Actors.

In terms of professional organizations, it varies from region to region since acting is an in-person experience. Local theater companies are a great avenue to check out. There is also MasterClass, an online resource where industry professionals conduct online classes for students.

The main union for film, television, and commercial Actors is the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA). They mostly handle negotiating base rates for Actors. Actors who pursue stage or theater work will belong to the Actors’ Equity Association. However, membership is not automatic. If you want to become a union Actor, research the qualifications necessary to join SAG or AEA.

Each acting market has its own online casting websites where Actors can create a profile with their headshot, resume, and reel. You can use these sites to submit for roles of send your profiles to Agents and Managers when you’re looking for representation. Several of the main sites are Actors Access, Backstage, and Casting Networks.