Actor Job Information | National Careers Service

Job profiles

Actor

Hours

Variable
Starting salary

£10,000 per year

If you love performing and want to use your talent and creativity, this job could be perfect for you. As an actor, your performances would bring characters to life in theatre, film, television and radio. You would use speech, movement and expression to act out a script or improvise a role in a believable and natural way.

An actor needs to have a good memory for learning parts quickly. You will also need to be versatile, adaptable and be willing to accept, and learn from, direction and criticism.

Most actors spend time training either at full-time drama school or through part-time classes. Usually you’ll need to spend time getting experience of performing before you find paid work.

The work

In most acting roles you would be guided by a director, usually as part of a team (cast) of other actors.

Performing is only a small part of the work. You would also spend a lot of time:

researching your role
learning lines
rehearsing
preparing for and going to auditions
contacting actors' agents and finding the next job.

In smaller theatre companies, you may also be involved in administration, publicity and putting on (staging) the performance.

You might combine performing with other types of work, such as teaching or community arts work.

Hours

Hours may be irregular. Most theatre performances take place in the evenings, but you may also have daytime shows, rehearsals and auditions. In film and television, days can be very long and involve a lot of waiting around between scenes.

You would need to travel to jobs and auditions, and you may spend long periods away from home if you are touring with a play, or filming at a location.

Income

There is no set income for actors. The majority earn less than £30,000 a year, and for many, earnings can be below £10,000 a year. Only the most well-established actors earn a high income.

Most actors are self-employed, and are paid a fee for each contract or performance.

Equity is the UK trade union for professional performers. See Equity's website for information about minimum income rates for members.

Equity

Entry requirements

Most actors spend time training (either at full-time drama school or through part-time classes) and building experience of performing before they find paid work. Talent, determination, hard work and luck are also important. You may be lucky and find work quite quickly as a professional actor, but this is quite rare.

Young people aged up to about 16 may choose to go to a stage or performing arts school, which combines academic study with learning practical skills. These students may have the chance to appear on stage, screen and radio. For most people, however, professional training begins once they have left school.

A large percentage of working actors have professional training at a specialist drama school approved by the National Council for Drama Training (NCDT). Courses approved by the NCDT can help when starting an acting career. They are very practical and offer the opportunity to perform in front of agents and casting directors. These courses also lead to full membership of Equity.

At drama school you could take a full-time three-year degree or diploma in acting or musical theatre. You must be at least 18 for this. If you already have a degree, you could take a one-year postgraduate diploma. You should be at least 21 for this.

To get into drama school, you will need to pass an audition. You may also need some formal qualifications such as A levels or a BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts. This is not always essential if you show enough talent and commitment. Check exact entry requirements as they vary between each drama school.

Several universities offer drama degrees, although these are often more academic than practical. You will need to make sure that the course content is right for you.

See the NCDT and the Conference of Drama Schools websites for a list of accredited courses. You may be able to get funding for accredited courses through the Dance and Drama Award Scheme.

People with disabilities and special learning needs can receive additional support to enter acting from organisations like Shape Arts.

Shape

If you choose not to go to drama school or take a relevant degree you will still need to develop your skills and get as much practical experience of acting as possible. Ways that you could do this include taking part in:

amateur, community or youth theatre
college and university drama societies
regional, national and international student drama festivals and competitions
actors’ workshops, summer schools and part-time classes.

Follow the links below to read about different ways that three working actors began their careers.

Training and development

As a working actor, you would develop your skill and experience through ongoing rehearsing and performing.

It could help you to do additional training, or to gain skills such as horse riding, which may be needed for period dramas and action films. You can also take advanced classes and workshops to maintain and improve your acting skills.

You may also choose to train in related areas like directing, scriptwriting, drama therapy or teaching.

Skills and knowledge

To become an actor, you will need to have:

talent and creativity
good teamwork skills
stamina, energy and physical fitness
versatility and adaptability
discipline, resilience and a hard-working attitude
a good memory, for learning parts quickly
reliability and punctuality
willingness to accept, and learn from, direction and criticism.

More information

Creative and Cultural Skills (Opens new window)
Lafone House
The Leathermarket
Weston Street
London
SE1 3HN
www.creative-choices.co.uk

National Council for Drama Training (NCDT) (Opens new window)
249 Tooley Street
London
SE1 2JX
Tel: 020 7407 3686
www.ncdt.co.uk

Conference of Drama Schools (Opens new window)
PO Box 34252
London
NW5 1XJ
www.drama.ac.uk

Get Into Theatre (Opens new window)
www.getintotheatre.org

Creative Skillset Careers (Opens new window)
Tel: 08080 300 900
(England and Northern Ireland)
Tel: 0845 850 2502(Scotland)
Tel: 08000 121 815 (Wales)
www.creativeskillset.org/careers

Equity (Opens new window)
Guild House
Upper St Martin’s Lane
London
WC2H 9EG
Tel: 020 7379 6000
www.equity.org.uk

Dance and Drama Awards (Opens new window)
www.direct.gov.uk/danceanddrama

Shape (Opens new window)
Deane House Studios
27 Greenwood Place
London
NW5 1LB
Tel: 0845 521 3457
Minicom: 020 7424 7368
www.shapearts.org.uk

Opportunities

As well as acting in theatre, film, TV and radio, you can also find opportunities in theatre in education (TiE), voice-overs, commercials, and interactive role-playing for museums, training courses or corporate events.

Most acting jobs are short-term contracts, and full-time ongoing work is rare. Most actors spend less than half of the year in acting jobs, so you should be prepared to find different types of work at other times. Your other work needs to be flexible so that you can take time off for auditions, or if acting roles come along. Temporary employment in shops and offices, supply teaching or casual work in hospitality and catering are some of the possibilities.

To find work, most actors sign up with an agent. Agents will put you forward for auditions and castings but will take a fee of about 10-25% from your earnings. You can also list your details in casting directories such as The Spotlight, and look for audition notices in The Stage (the newspaper for the performing arts industry).

You may find the following useful for finding out about auditions and making contacts (links open in new window):

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.

Related industry information

Industry summary

The performing arts industry is part of the creative and cultural industries, represented by the Creative and Cultural Skills Sector Skills Council, which also includes: craft; cultural heritage; literature; design; music; and visual arts. The creative and cultural industries currently employ 678,480, people, of which 24% are based in London. There are 74,640 businesses in the creative and cultural industries, of which 87% employ less than 10 people.

The performing arts comprises venues, employers, small businesses and freelancers in the theatre sector (including classical, contemporary, street arts, carnival arts, circus and physical theatre), dance, opera and the live music industry (including live performances of classical, pop, rock and all contemporary forms of music). The industry workforce includes performers, promoters and those who provide backstage technical input and administration.

Key facts:

There are 101,593 people working in the performing arts, of which:
- 34% are employed in onstage occupations, such as acting or dancing.
Employment grew by 20% between 2006/07 and 2008/09.
45% of the workforce is located in London and the South East.
There are 5,480 businesses, of which 92% employ less than 50 people.
The performing arts industry contributes £4.6 billion to the UK economy.
58% of the workforce is self‐employed.
Men and women are equally likely to have a level 4 or above qualification.
Men are likely to earn less money than women (87% of men earn less than £20,000 per year, compared to 58% of women).
73% of the performing arts workforce earns less than £20,000 a year.
40% of those working in performing arts have at least a level 4 qualification.

Jobs in the industry include: actor, agent, artistic director, choreographer, circus performer, dancer, entertainer, hair, makeup and wigs, props maker, puppeteer, rigger, sound technician, stage manager, studio manager, theatre director, wardrobe assistant.

National and regional data

Northern Ireland – There are 11,640 people working in the Northern Ireland creative and cultural sector. 2% of the UK performing arts workforce is located in Northern Ireland. In Northern Ireland, it contributes £42 million to the UK economy. More than 99% of the workforce is white and 86% of the workforce is male.

Scotland – There are 45,420 people working in the Scottish creative and cultural sector. 10% of the UK performing arts workforce is located in Scotland. In Scotland, it contributes £143 million to the UK economy. More than 99% of the workforce is white and 86% of the workforce is male.

Wales – There are 24,060 people working in the Welsh creative and cultural sector. 3% of the UK performing arts workforce is located in Wales. The industry in Wales contributes £86 million to the UK economy. 99% of the workforce is white and 58% of the workforce is male.

[N.B. The data for the following regions are for the creative and cultural sector as a whole.]

East Midlands – There are 44,380 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 7% of the UK sector workforce. There are 3,950 creative businesses in the region, of which 92% employ less than 50 people. 35% of the workforce is self-employed. 63% of the workforce is male. 95% of the sector workforce is white and 54% are under 40 years.

East of England – There are 63,700 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 9% of the UK sector workforce. There are 6,710 creative businesses in the region, of which 93% employ less than 50 people. 37% of the workforce is self-employed. 66% of the workforce is male. 95% of the sector workforce is white and 46% are under 40 years.

London – There are 164,690 people in the sector workforce in London, representing 24% of the UK sector workforce. There are 21,600 creative businesses, of which 93% employ less than 50 people. 51% of the workforce is self-employed. 58% of the workforce is male. 84% of the sector workforce is white and 56% are under 40 years.

North East – There are 19,680 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 3% of the UK sector workforce. There are 1,330 creative businesses in the region, of which 90% employ less than 50 people. 38% of the workforce is self-employed. 63% of the workforce is male. 96% of the sector workforce is white and 53% are under 40 years.

North West – There are 59,580 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 9% of the UK sector workforce. There are 5,660 creative businesses in the region, of which 91% employ less than 50 people. 34% of the workforce is self-employed; the majority of who are in arts and music. 62% of the workforce is male. 95% of the sector workforce is white and 55% are under 40 years.

South East – There are 98,170 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 14% of the UK sector workforce. There are 12,300 creative businesses in the region, of which 93% employ less than 50 people. 43% of the workforce is self-employed. 59% of the workforce is male. 97% of the sector workforce is white and 47% are under 40 years.

South West – There are 60,690 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 9% of the UK sector workforce. There are approximately 5,000 creative businesses in the region, of which 93% employ less than 50 people. 47% of the workforce is self-employed in arts, design and music. 59% of the workforce is male. 98% of the sector workforce is white and 46% are under 40 years.

West Midlands – There are 40,300 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 6% of the UK sector workforce. There are approximately 5,000 creative businesses in the region, of which 91% employ less than 50 people. 31% of the workforce is self-employed, which is the lowest regional figure. 58% of the workforce is male. 91% of the sector workforce is white and 49% are under 40 years.

Yorkshire and the Humber – There are 45,900 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 7% of the UK sector workforce. There are fewer than 4,000 creative businesses in the region, of which 90% employ less than 50 people. 40% of the workforce is self-employed. 60% of the workforce is male. 97% of the sector workforce is white and 53% are under 40 years.