Actress

Actors entertain people by acting out a role using body movement and speech.

Pay:

Pay rates for actors vary depending on your ability, how often you work, and what type of work you do. Actors may work in amateur theatre and perform for little or no money. They often need to combine their work with other forms of employment, as acting work tends to be irregular.

Job opportunities:  Growing

Length of training: No specific training requirements.

About the job

What you will do:

• audition for parts in performances on stage, in film or on television
• study scripts to understand the part they are playing
• research their character
• memorise and rehearse their character’s lines, cues and physical movements
• discuss their character with the director and the other actors they work with
• act out the role for an audience or in front of a camera
• improvise parts of their character’s personality or actions during rehearsal or in front of an audience
• perform stunts for an audience

Skills and knowledge needed:

• knowledge of how people behave and speak, so that they can create believable characters
• the ability to project their voice to fill a room
• knowledge of a variety of books, plays, and poetry
• knowledge of different cultures
• skill in interpreting and analysing roles
• knowledge of different stunts, including which stunts to perform in certain situations and the best way of performing them
• the ability to use specialist stunt equipment such as flying harnesses and airbags
• skills relating to the type of stunts they are performing such as martial arts, gymnastics or

How to enter the job

There are no specific entry requirements to become an actor. However, a Diploma or Bachelor of Performing Arts, or a Bachelor of Arts majoring in drama or dance may be useful.

Secondary education: A good level of spoken English is important, and subjects such as drama, history, social studies and maths are useful. Participating in extracurricular activities, such as theatre sports and debating, is also useful.

Personal qualities needed:

• able to memorise lines
• able to take direction, accept criticism and work well under pressure
• disciplined and motivated
• creative and imaginative
• able to work well as part of a team

Useful experience:

• amateur acting
• modelling or dancing
• any sport or other pursuit that involves teamwork

Because acting involves playing all sorts of characters, any life experience is also helpful.

Related jobs:  Dancer, Entertainer, Musician, Model.

Vocational pathways: Creative industries.