At the great age of 38 how can I become an actress ?

Question

I've not performed since I was at school, but would love to study acting and become a professional one. I have no idea how to even start the process. Where to apply, etc. My current job means I cannot join am-dram or anything like that, it has to be an all or nothing solution.

Answer 1

Get into Equity as soon as you can get work, Whenever you get work, make sure you get a contract, and show it to Equity. It costs 90 GBP a year to be a member, website: www.equity.org.uk and address: Guild House, Upper Saint Martins Lane, London WC2.

Having an Equity card tells the world you are a professional performer. Best 90 GBP you will ever spend,

Invest in some photographs, as you will need to send them out, Ideally learn how to use Photoshop and how to attach them to e-mails.

Consider joining an Actors' Co-operative (you help each other get work).

Read the job ads in the trade paper The Stage and Television Today (published weekly on Thursdays) or access their website for the ads, http://www.thestage.co.uk/

Find out about classes (ask for a brochure) at The Actors Centre
http://www.actorscentre.co.uk/
and at the City Literary Institute in London.
http://www.citylit.ac.uk/

The Actors' Centre do an intensive week-long summer school and several of the drama schools do so too.

Get some solo audition speeches sorted out, go and see some plays, once you get into Equity join the local branch and mingle and network with other performers,

Consider getting a 1-woman show together which you can always tour and revive when your other work is drying up.

Try and get some work as a film extra, just so you can make contacts. This is organised by the Film Artistes Association, a section of the trade union BECTU (Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph, and Theatre Union).
http://www.bectu.org.uk/

Equity organises Walk-Ons, BECTU organises extras, What's the difference? Walk-Ons speak, Extras do not have individual lines.

Live, sleep, eat, sweat and breathe acting and never give up. It is never too late to get started. It is all too easy to quit.

Good luck

Answer 2

Check out 'yahoo groups' for clubs that cater to the performing arts communities. Sign up for one that has members in your area and set your membership page so that you receive postings via e-mail. The mail that I've gotten from my group 'A-ACT-DC' has surprised the heck out of me. I've received information on film industry casting calls, local theater auditions, commercial acting opportunities, etc. Some of it is junk, some is strictly guild work, but most of it is really good info you can use. Try it out. Go through your 'my yahoo' page to 'more yahoo', click on 'groups' and do a search for something you like. You might have to try a couple before you find the right one, and don't ignore the announcements to join other groups - the one you are looking for may just be in one of those lists. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

How exciting! You want a change of career now. Have you ever acted before? If you are not already part of an amateur dramatics group, I suggest you join one and build up on your acting experience. That way too you get to decide if it is really what you want to do without giving up your current job and career too hastily. As you build up your confidence, start networking. Start buying The Stage, and look into getting yourself an Equity card and an agent, and take it from there. Good luck

Answer 4

As answered when asked on the streets of NYC how one gets to Carnegie Hall - practice, practice, practice. Unless you get involved in some local groups and either start auditioning and getting into plays and hopefully taking some acting classes your chance of becoming an actress is slim. It is rare that one just "gets an agent" and BAM becomes an actress. As a former actress I will tell you that it is a craft and one you must study. You must learn to play different characters, how to deliver lines and how to transform yourself into someone other than whom you are. Look into the local high school, junior colleges, and amateurs groups in your area and get involved.

Answer 5

Well you have to be a great actress to get into lead roles, but look in the yellow pages in your local city, and look up Agents! That person will help you get a job much easier. IT is still going to be a hard work, because there are many young people trying to make it into the 'business'. It might be harder for you, but if you show how hard you will work you might be able to get a job!

fact: men out number women in the acting world 2 to 1

Answer 6

you can become an actress at any age. Drama schools do take mature students. you'd be best one to one coaching first off and then audition for a college. your local college will have a list of tutors or the library should have a data base. many coaches advertise in 'The Stage' which you should start getting to find out what's going on in the theatre.

Answer 7

If you want to do it that badly then you will change jobs in order to make time for it.
Am dram is surely the best place to start; you HAVE to have experience and be sure that you like it.
You can do a degree in theatre studies or acting; many universities offer such degrees.

Answer 8

I agree that it has to be all or nothing. I have several friends who have made it in the acting world and who make a living at it. believe me they had to give it ALL. It takes total dedication, skill, and luck. You could join community groups or take a few acting lessons but until you commit fully you won't go anywhere. So GO to school or GO to New York or GO to LA and throw yourself in to it with all you have. Don't give up even when you are going hungry. Learn your craft. AUDITION EVEY CHANCE YOU GET!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!and pray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was a wise YODA who said, "there is no try; Only do."
I hope you make it!!!

P.S. Look out for people who say they can help you. They most often are trying to help themselves.

Answer 9

Apply to RADA. (Drama school) Very well respected. Great teachers. Thousands of great actors went there. They will train you. You will have a great chance of work when you finish the course.

You probably won't be the oldest in your year.

If you can pass their audition you probably have what it takes.

http://www.rada.org/

Answer 10

Local acting school or classes or local playhouses who has local acting groups. Good Luck.