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Actor

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Actor

Actor Career Details

Actors use speech and body language to portray characters and situations. This is usually based on a script created by an author, but may sometimes involve improvisation. Acting work varies widely, as it may involve performing in a wide range of settings. Some actors combine their acting skills with singing and dancing, especially within musical theatre.

As well as acting, actors spend a lot of time studying their roles, learning lines and rehearsing. They also need to prepare for and attend auditions for a variety of different medium including live theatre, television plays and series, films, radio and advertisements. Actors usually work as part of a team, under the instruction and support of a director.

Working Environment

Hours can be long and irregular, often including evenings and weekends. Actors in touring companies often spend long periods away from home.

The work can take place in all kinds of settings - indoors in theatres, rehearsal rooms and film or television studios, or outdoors in street theatre or on location in film or television acting. Some roles may involve wearing uncomfortable costumes for long periods.

Actor Related Skills

To be an actor you should:
  • be talented and determined
  • be able to express emotion or character through body, voice, or both
  • be creative
  • have stamina, resilience and a good level of physical fitness
  • be adaptable and versatile, in order to be able to assume a variety of roles
  • be prepared to work at other jobs and endure periods of unemployment between roles
  • have a good memory in order to learn parts quickly.

Actor Career Opportunities

Further Career Information

If you would like to know more about a career as an Actor related facts, statistics, articles and websites.

Career Steps

Not quite sure about a career as a Actor? Try our step-by-step career guide to reaching your chosen career.

Career Courses

Not quite qualified to be a Actor? Take a look at Postgraduate Actor courses, Undergraduate Actor courses, Adult learning Actor courses, Adult learning Actor courses, our course browses or use our search form and find courses which will help you on your chosen career path.