Actors and Actresses perform, creating new worlds on the stage or in front of a camera. Actors and Actresses can be the celebrities you see walking the red carpet at the Oscars, or the people who perform in a small independent play at a community center.

For this job you’ll have a lot of different work environments and no two will be the same. You might be on a sitcom, working with other Actors and Actresses to make people laugh, or you might be doing a small modern performance, giving monologues by yourself.

Even more varied will be the roles you’re portraying. Just like any of your favorite movie stars you might spend six months on a movie playing a famous Pilot from history, and then on your next job play the villain in a futuristic world. Who you’re supposed to be will change with where you’re working so you’ll want to make sure you get the training you need to keep up with your role’s demands.

Your main responsibility is portray a person, making sure to really get their motivations and essence across to an audience. To do this you use different techniques like say a British accent or specific movements which give nonverbal cues about your character. The best Actors make you truly believe they are who they are playing, even if you’ve seen them perform in other roles before.

Personality Traits


High Achiever: You love the challenge of tackling difficult work.

Persistent: You keep pushing through, even when faced with tough obstacles.

Detail Oriented: You pay close attention to all the little details.

Salary and Education


How much does an Actor and Actress make?

Nationally: Highly Variable

Main education level: Certificate

source: US Dept of Labor





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