careernav.

General Description

This is an ideal career for creative thinkers An actor is somebody who will play the role of different characters in a range of different productions, from television to films, radio, advertising and theatre.

What you do every day

When you are trying to get work you will attend an audition, where you will possibly act a part of a script for the role you are trying to obtain. Attending these auditions will usually be the director, a casting agent, possibly a producer and a fellow actor (known as a reader) who will read the other parts in the scene (off camera) for you to work with.

After successfully auditioning . you will then begin studying the script you are to learn. As you memorise the required lines from the scripts, you will probably need to do some research into the role you are performing depending on the size of the production.  When you enter the rehearsal process, you will find that in many productions the actor, along with the Director, writers and fellow actors, has a chance to ‘personalise’ the dialogue. Often a writer will write dialogue which may look right on the page, but when read aloud is either too obvious, extraneous or difficult to say. This is where the process becomes more collaborative, with the actor given the chance to workshop alternatives to the scripted dialogue.

For most of your productions you will have to attend the dress rehearsals where your costumes will be fitted to your size. This is also a collaborative process. Whilst the costume designer will have specific ideas about the clothes worn by your character, you have to feel as comfortable as possible and the clothes must fit your interpretation of the character.

Personality that best fits this career

The best actors have the determination and self-confidence to succeed at any level and with any role that they are playing. Your ability to memorise lines and ability to cope with changing situations within your role will see you do well in this career choice.

You will have patience and a high commitment to your work as when you are employed for productions there will be a lot of time, sometimes hours, spent on rehearsals and learning scripts.

Best thing about this career

Being an actor you will get to meet many different people from many different backgrounds. You will have the opportunity to travel at times to locations for the production you are working on at the time. If it’s something that is a passion, it is a joy to get up in the morning and go to work.

Worst thing about this career

Work will not always be easy to find. At times you will work elsewhere to support yourself until you find another acting role.

Also, a by-product of working in a creative field such as this is that no matter how much hard work, blood sweat and tears you put into any production, lurking in the not-too-distant future will be the dreaded critic. Be this someone who’s paid to write their opinions in newspapers or a plumber from St Kilda in a pub, there is always the chance that they’ll see fit to tell you that they would have done it better.