How Do I Become An Actor or Actress?

by Robyn Tellefsen

Some people believe that actors are born, not made; others say the reverse is true. Either way, many actors are blessed with natural talents in the performing arts, discovering and utilizing their gifts from a young age.

How do I become an actor?
To become an actor, a young person may take acting classes in posture, speech, and interpretation, learning tips and tricks to become masters of memorization. Community theater as well as school productions are an excellent place for aspiring actors to gain experience auditioning and performing in a variety of roles. This early experience can also serve as a helpful indicator of whether or not an acting career is something the young person would like to pursue.

Of course, an adult with no previous theater experience can become an actor, too. This process may involve auditioning for unpaid roles with a local theater company, or even painting sets or running errands for the director in order to get a walk-on part and later audition for a speaking role. Early acting jobs often require actors to start at the bottom and prove their dedication to the theater company and to their craft - not unlike entry-level work in other industries. Actors who perfect the art of looking for work anywhere they can and who commit to the process for the long haul are the ones who are poised for a successful acting career.

Ultimately, the best way to become an actor is by practice, practice, and more practice. The more monologues you memorize, the more scenes you work on with another actor, the more auditions you push yourself through, the more comfortable you will become in your acting career. And that confidence translates into a stage presence that's highly sought after by casting directors worldwide.

What will I learn in acting school?
Though many famous actors never went to acting school, the majority of lesser-known actors are making their way in the biz with the skills they've acquired through formal lessons. Taking the time to enroll in acting classes or take singing lessons shows that you are willing to take action to make sure your work is top-notch.

Acting schools provide valuable industry connections, as many instructors are actors themselves. Acting classes cover accents and dialects, stage speech and movement, comedic acting, and more. Many acting schools train students in method acting, which involves creating a backstory for the character and living between takes as if you truly are the character. Not all actors embrace method acting, but many believe it's a worthwhile skill that can help them "get into character."

In acting school, courses in dramatic literature and the history of theater offer perspective on the past, present, and future of the performing arts. Acting schools also provide opportunities to learn about all the jobs that make a production come to life, such as director, camera operator, film editor, makeup artist, costume designer, writer, producer, choreographer, musician, and so many more. It is essential that actors understand how they fit into the bigger picture of the industry.