Job Description of an Actress

Actresses need to consider what their job description means to keep casting directors thinking that they are professional.

Professional actresses are union actresses who perform in stage, film, television and other venues to make an income. They sometimes have a focus in either drama, comedy, or commercials. This article reveals what a career as a professional actress means by looking into the job description of an actress.

Scripts

View the script through the character's lens. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, an actress must "interpret a writer's script to entertain, inform, or instruct an audience" (see references). The writer and director give the actress a significant amount of information about how the character should act, and the choices made during performance are ultimately up to the actress. She should make choices that fall in line with what the director wants, and she still has room to bring personality to the character.

Freelance

Be prepared to spend a significant amount of time out of work. An actress dedicates herself to auditions that take up most of her time. A small amount of time goes towards gigs that are not full time. Although acting gigs can be unpredictable, an actress can gain stability by becoming union, which leads to getting health insurance. Some of the actors unions include Screen Actors Guild, Actors' Equity Association and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (see resources).

Work Conditions

Work on location without much sleep. Many film shoots require actors to work in an area distant from an actress' home. Many theatre shows travel to distant locations, and they give actors health care with union status, which makes the traveling worth the difficult schedule. Unions often regulate the amount of time that a union actress is aloud to work in one day. The work hours can still be long because directors want to get the what they paid for, which is an actress for a full day.

Rejection

Have a tough layer of skin to avoid becoming handicapped from criticism. Actresses go to far more auditions than they book, and they remind themselves that they are not right for each role. Sometimes casting directors are looking for a different hair color, and they can not picture the actress that is in the audition room with a different hair color. Actresses can drive themselves up the wall thinking that their charm should convince every casting director that they are right for the role. Actresses must remember that they did not enter the performing arts world to get a reaction from people.

Pressure

Have stamina to get through a rigorous day's work. Acting is a physical experience, and it calls for a significant amount of movement. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, "actors strive to deliver flawless performances, often while working under undesirable and unpleasant conditions" (see references). A successful actress is a perfectionist dedicated to making her craft a riveting performance. She must read an extensive amount of material and memorize it in a short amount of time. She needs to understand what is expected of her and live up to the expectation without buckling under pressure.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition

Resources

• AFTRA: American Federation of Television and Radio Artists AFL-CIO
• Screen Actors Guild: Home
• Actors' Equity Association: About Equity