Steps to become an actor and becoming an actor can be simple if you apply for the right acting schools and get the training you need to become a successful actor. As an actor myself, I know that it took me years to become successful and make ends meet. I’m not talking about making millions of dollars; but rather just making enough money to pay my bills while doing what I love – Acting.
Every one of us need to pay our bills. Let me guess, you are not an exception? So here’s the point, you can make a pretty good living acting. It’s just like any other job, sometimes it’s easy and most of the time it’s hard. It takes skills and knowledge to get your first acting gig and make it look easy. If you want to become an actor, it is possible. Look at where I’m at right now! Reach for the stars and give it a try!
How To Become An Actor
If one thing is for certain when it comes to show business, it’s that there is more than one road to becoming an actor. Take Octavia Spencer, who spent years in minor and supporting roles before finding fame and an Oscar; or two-time Tony nominee Jonathan Groff, who booked his first national tour from Backstage’s casting notices; or three-time Emmy winner Aaron Paul, who was “discovered” at an acting and modeling competition after moving from Idaho to Los Angeles.
These are just three of the countless different ways success can come your way as an actor—but when it comes knocking, you have to be prepared to give it all you’ve got. Below, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about getting your foot in the door, whether that door leads to Hollywood, to Broadway, or anything in between.
JUMP TO
- Steps to Becoming an Actor
- Types of Actors
- Are There Education Requirements to Be an Actor?
- What Do You Need to Audition for a Role?
- How to Find Auditions and Casting Calls
- What to Expect at an Acting Audition
- How Do I Get an Acting Agent?
- Where to Live If You Want to Be an Actor
- How Do I Become a Famous Actor?
- How Much Do Actors Make?
Steps to Becoming an Actor
There’s no one way to become an actor or actress. But these are the five most common steps for those pursuing an acting career:
- Train to become an actor. There are no formal educational requirements for actors, but training is a good place to start. If you’re a student, consider getting a BFA or MFA in theater or attending summer programs; otherwise, local acting classes are the best choice for most people.
- Prepare your headshot, acting résumé, and demo reel. Casting directors often require you to submit these materials before they will consider you for roles.
- Submit to auditions and casting calls. Early in your career, you’ll find these through word of mouth and online casting platforms like Backstage.
- Gain experience to improve your résumé and reel. As you audition and land more roles, you’ll acquire better footage for your reel—and better parts to list on your résumé.
- Get signed by an agent. The experience you’ve built up will help you impress an acting agent and get representation. With an agent in your corner, you’ll have access to bigger projects and meatier roles.
We’ve broken down each of these steps in more detail in later sections of this guide—keep reading for more industry insight into things like how to create a demo reel or approach an acting agent.
Is It Hard to Become an Actor?
It’s important that you’re prepared for the reality of this business: As an actor, there’s no guarantee of success in the traditional sense. Sure, making it big is about talent—but it’s also about having good luck and the right connections. That’s why it’s vital to make sure you’re in show business for the right reasons. “Often actors are mainly focused on questions like, ‘How do I get representation?’ or ‘How do I get work?’ but perhaps the first question to ask oneself, if one is just beginning, is ‘Why do I want to act?’” says casting director Ilene Starger. “If it’s about the work and the process, terrific; if it’s about becoming famous, that is a far more elusive goal—and one which will lead to disappointment, most likely.”
You’ll need patience and perspective if you’re going to make it as an actor. “Never, ever look to the prize,” Academy Award-winner Octavia Spencer says. “That’s something that you can’t control. What you can control is the work ethic and treating the material with respect. It took me 15 years to become an overnight success, so if you’re only at the three-year mark, honey, you’ve got some time.” Expect to put in years of hard work before you see real, tangible results. Rejection is a constant (yes, even for established actors!), so make sure that you can handle a long string of “nos” before finally landing that coveted “yes.”
Types of Actors
So, you want to be an actor. Now the question is: What kind? There’s a lot more to the industry than starring in the next Hollywood blockbuster or Netflix series. A helpful way to sort different types of acting opportunities is by medium:
- Screen actors: Films, television, commercials, web series
- Stage actors: On-Broadway and off-Broadway, musical theater
- Voice actors: Animation, ads, podcasts, video games, audiobooks
Your acting technique will vary depending on your medium. Acting for the camera is very different from acting for a live audience; doing commercial voiceover work will require different training than preparing for a musical theater audition. Of course, many actors move from stage to screen and back again through their career. But it may be helpful, as you begin your acting career, to consider which medium you’re most interested in.
Are There Education Requirements to Be an Actor?
There are no education requirements for actors—formal training can be helpful, but there are plenty of successful actors who never got an acting degree. That said, pretty much every actor working today has received some sort of training along the way. But actor training can mean many things: there are acting and improv classes, BFA and MFA programs, on-set coaches, even online courses. Which option makes the most sense for you depends on several factors, including your age and experience level and whether you’re looking to make it on-stage or on-screen.
- Acting schools and classes: Acting classes range widely in terms of content, time commitment, and price—making them the best option for most aspiring actors. Research what classes are offered in your city (you can use Backstage’s Call Sheet or ask friends for references), audit a few promising options, then pick the teacher and technique that speaks to you. Then, stick with the class for at least six months. “If you love it, then continue, and when you can, add an improvisation and a commercial class or audition technique to see if you are interested in another area of acting,” says acting teacher Carolyne Barry.
- Acting coaches: Coaches are an important part of acting, but they’re not a stand-in for other training methods. Especially if you’re trying to get into acting with no experience, acting coach Marci Liroff recommends starting with weekly classes. Acting coaches are better for fine-tuning, she notes—they won’t teach you the basics of movement and using your voice effectively.
- Summer training: If you’re a teen actor looking to sharpen your teeth with like-minded young talents, there’s no better place than summer training. There are several U.S. programs with a proven track record: The Atlantic Acting School (NYC) boasts such alums as Rose Byrne, Anna Chlumsky, and Matthew Fox, while Stagedoor Manor (Loch Sheldrake, N.Y.) counts Academy Award winner Natalie Portman, Robert Downey Jr., and Lea Michele among its alums.
- Higher education: A theater degree isn’t right for every actor. They can be incredibly expensive, and they’re never a guarantee of success. But a BFA or MFA can help you forge important connections, instill the value of hard work, and allow you to further hone your craft. Degrees can be particularly helpful if you want to become a stage actor; Hollywood cares less.
If you’re trying to choose an undergraduate acting program, you’ll want to consider the pedigree of the program offered, the school’s location and its surrounding theater and talent pool, and who teaches and runs the program, among other things. Backstage’s list of the top 25 acting colleges in the U.S. is a good place to start.
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What Do You Need to Audition for a Role?
Every actor needs at least three things when trying to book an audition: headshots, an acting résumé, and a demo reel. Then, depending on your specialty, you may need additional materials—for instance, you’ll need to bring a book filled with cuts of various songs you’ve prepared if you’re auditioning for musical theater.
Headshot
A headshot is an 8” x 10” color photo of an actor from the chest up, with their face clearly visible. It will serve as your calling card for casting directors, talent agents, and anyone else deciding whether or not to give you a shot. Headshots are the foundation of your marketing materials—and, ultimately, your personal brand—which means there’s a lot riding on a few photos.
Acting Résumé
Like traditional résumés, acting résumés should be one page long and summarize your relevant experience. More specifically, acting résumés should include:
- Your name
- Your agent and managers’ names (if applicable)
- Your phone number and email
- Union affiliation (AEA, EMC, SAG-AFTRA, SAG-eligible, nonunion, etc.)
- Training
- Acting credits
- Special skills (accents, martial arts, horseback riding, musical instruments, etc.)
You’ll want to break up your acting credits by type. Categories are often listed as follows:
- Film/TV
- Commercials/Industrials
- Broadway
- National Tours
- Regional Theater
- Academic Theater
All credits should include show titles, roles, directors, and producing organizations—casting directors are known to give directors or producing companies a call for feedback. Physical attributes like weight, height, and hair and eye color should be included for film productions (especially if you’re self-taping), while theater auditions usually don’t require such details.
Above all, remember that acting résumés should be concise, clear, and easy to read. “Put yourself in the shoes of the person viewing it,” says actor David Patrick Green. “In most cases, they only have a few seconds to look at your material. If it is crowded and overwritten, it will be hard to latch onto what is relevant to their project.”
Demo reel
Also known as a “sizzle reel,” a demo reel is a series of clips that showcase your previous acting credits; it can also include footage of you acting out a scene or monologue specifically for that reel. Reels are generally two minutes long, with each clip lasting 20-30 seconds. Casting directors, agents, and producers use reels to decide whether or not they will ask an actor in for an audition—so it’s essential that you present yourself in the best possible light.
