Guidance.help

Actors

Under the title Actors, workers play parts in stage, television, radio, video, or film productions, or other settings for entertainment, information, or instruction. O*NET rates it as some preparation, which usually means a few months to a year of learning on the job. It leans on speaking, reading comprehension, and active listening. The job can ask you to attend auditions and casting calls to audition for roles. With a code of ASE, this is mostly a job for people drawn to creative work with room for original expression. Social interests also help, rated 4.1 out of 7. If you want creative work with room for original expression, keep it on your list. If you need orderly work with data, records and clear procedures, it may feel thin.

What they do

Play parts in stage, television, radio, video, or film productions, or other settings for entertainment, information, or instruction. Interpret serious or comic role by speech, gesture, and body movement to entertain or inform audience. May dance and sing.

Main tasks

  • Attend auditions and casting calls to audition for roles.
  • Work closely with directors, other actors, and playwrights to find the interpretation most suited to the role.
  • Portray and interpret roles, using speech, gestures, and body movements, to entertain, inform, or instruct radio, film, television, or live audiences.
  • Study and rehearse roles from scripts to interpret, learn and memorize lines, stunts, and cues as directed.
  • Collaborate with other actors as part of an ensemble.
  • Learn about characters in scripts and their relationships to each other to develop role interpretations.

Skills

  • Speaking
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Active Listening
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Critical Thinking
  • Time Management

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You want room to make something in your own way.
  • You get energy from helping other people move forward.
  • You want to start work after a short stretch of training.
  • You are comfortable relying on speaking and reading comprehension.

May not suit you if

  • You prefer clear instructions to open creative briefs.
  • You want your day to run on clear systems and exact records. Conventional rates 1.8 out of 7 here.
  • You want a career built on years of advanced study.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code ASE takes the three highest, and Artistic comes first here.

Preparation

Some preparation. Most people start with a high school diploma, then learn from experienced coworkers over a few months to a year.

Also called

  • Actress
  • Comedian
  • Community Theater Actor
  • Entertainer
  • Film Actor

Related careers

Is this your direction?

See how your interests line up with ASE and 906 other careers.

Take the career test

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.