How do I become a professional actor?

I want to become a professional actor. How do I get started?

• I'm 20 and I want to become a professional actor. I want to be movies and TV shows. How do I get started?

• Answer:

  The level of competition for any work (nevertheless movies and tv series) is immense. Agents can pick and choose from thousands of qualified, experienced, talented and highly motivated actors. In order to be able to compete successfully for the limited amount of acting work available, you need to become one of those. I recommend you research the best actor training options in your country and the employment outcomes of graduates of those schools. Find out if you have acting ability and potential by attending an industry recognised and supported course at a good school. Even a short course should help you work out if you have ability and the resilience and motivation it takes to pursue this line of work. Any performing arts experience is useful, but you will need solid training to understand the business. Spending time in the company of other highly motivated young aspiring actors will give you some industry knowledge. This is a difficult occupation where the chances of earning a liveable income are slight. You must do it because you love it, not with the expectation of a solid career and a good income. This is not an industry for the faint hearted as to make any progress, enormous effort, training and networking are essential. Best of luck.