How to Become an Actress

Show business is an industry in which professional contacts are vital for survival. Of course, you still need outstanding acting skills to succeed as well. Living near either Los Angeles or New York City is extremely beneficial, although not required, for success in show business. Don’t worry about what you look like--producers in movies and television often need character actresses to play all types of roles. Read on to learn how to become an actress.

Things You'll Need

• Great acting skills
• Determination
• DVD demo reels and copies
• Agent and/or manager (recommended)
• Press kit (including 8 x 10 photo(s))
• SAG and/or AFTRA membership (recommended)
• SAG and/or AFTRA membership fees (recommended)

Instructions

1. Take acting lessons and participate in school acting performances and classes. If you can afford to do so, locate and hire an acting coach.

2. Prepare copies of a resumé.

3. Attend a photo session with different poses and wardrobes taken by a professional photographer.

4. Select the photos you want to use. Make at least 100 copies of an 8 x 10 photo featuring one pose, preferably with several poses placed on the back of your photo. Order copies of your photos from professional photo duplicators such as ABC Pictures.

5. Audition for parts in local theater stage plays. You can find casting notices by reading “Backstage West” or “Backstage East” newspapers. These publications also list openings for actors and actresses in an online format for a nominal monthly charge.

6. Prepare about 100 press kits. Each kit should contain an 8 x 10 photo, news clippings in which you are mentioned as an actress, resumé, DVD of any of your performances, presentation folder, promotional materials and favorable reviews from print and video media.

7. Produce an acting demo DVD featuring your roles. This DVD is called a “demo reel.” You’ll need to make lots of copies.

8. Find a talent agent and submit your press kit by mail or via delivery. Many talent agents are now requiring that photos be submitted exclusively via email.

9. Submit your press kits to the appropriate casting agent listed for upcoming productions.

10. Join appropriate unions (fees must be paid) such as the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA). Most major motion pictures and television shows require membership in one or both unions.

Tips & Warnings

• Be prepared for lots of rejections in your career in show business. You’ll need tough skin to survive in show business. It’s been said that actresses spend 90 percent of their time looking for work and only 10 percent of their time actually acting.

• Beware of so-called “talent agencies” that charge a fee for their company to take photos supposedly for the company to represent you.

Resources

• Official Screen Actors Guild website
• American Federation of Television and Radio Artists website
• Backstage West