I Am 16 And Would Like To Be An Actress How Should I Go About Doing This?

Question

I Havent Studied It Before Apart From Primary School..Should I Stay At High School Or Leave? We Dont Have A Drama Department In Our School!

Answer 1

Stay in school. You don't need to do a drama course but you do need proper qualifications in other subjects.

You need to get experience at a Youth Theatre and maybe student films.

At 16 you are in a better position because you no longer have time restrictions (younger kids can only work limited hours). However there are plenty of older actresses (in their 20s) with lots of experience who can pay 16 year olds. If you look younger than 16 (e.g. 13) then this is good.

Don't ever make the mistake of thinking you need to look older and more mature, directors want someone who has no acting restrictions who can play younger.

Do you want to act or be famous? If it's fame then forget it.

Made it this far? OK.

Experience is the most important thing, going to any kind of drama school is not important (in fact many directors prefer kids who don't). So the trick is to get as much experience as possible. Getting into student films is very good, there's no pay but excellent experience.

You don't need an agent to get started. See my other answer for more stuff on agents.You *will* need professional black & white photos done.

Remember: (1) Any "agency" that wants money up-front is a fraud, and is breaking the law (or will be soon). (2) Any "agency" that does not audition you is probably not worth being in.

The Not A Pushy Mum website (not just for mums and dads, you can join too) (http://www.notapushymum.com/) has lists of auditions being held that are open to anyone to apply to. This site also has lots of information that you need to know. Plus lots of helpful parents (including me: I'm Aladdinsane on that site, one of the Moderators on the forum).

You could subscribe to http://www.starnow.co.uk/ although I recently unsubscribed. It's "good" if you want to get onto reality TV but that's not a good plan for someone who really wants to act. (Please don't make the mistake of thinking Reality TV will give you good exposure.)

Another option is http://www.mandy.com/ which gets lots of student films and is global, it costs nothing (unless you want possible jobs sent to you by e-mail).

Be aware that boys are more in demand than girls, and there are far more girls than boys wanting to act. So you're up against a lot of competition. But, in the final analysis, a director always wants someone with the "right look" -- and if you're not what they're looking for they won't choose you. It's not personal.

Stay in school and keep studying, being an educated actress is better than being an uneducated one: what will you do when you're not working?

Good luck.

Answer 2

Meghan I am utterly amazed at the negative answers people have given you.

All you have to do is look in the newspaper and find what plays your local "community" or "little theatre" or "amateur" theatre groups ate doing in your town.

Le't say one group is doing "Our Town".. So you phone or notice when the auditions are and you dress up nicely and "different", e.g wear a plaid skirt or modest clothes and NOT sloppy clothes.

At the audition you ask what parts are available for "young girls" or even "crowd" scenes. By golly you are going to get a part one way or the other.

Then "read" for that part when they ask you to. Some girls will already have a script and will have read up on the "rols" for their age group. YOU should have done that too.

Keep going to auditions but remember, if you have a script in advance you can practice at home (in the garage) until you say that part so well and clearly and with just the right emphasis that the"artistic director" will say, " YES you have the part.

If you were my daughter I would let you go to "
theater workshops" which every theatre group has. It is a great place to start.

Good luck and "break a leg!"

Answer 3

Of course you shouldn't drop out, but it would be a good idea to find drama classes or a community theatre, so you can get familiar with acting. Then you could either get an agent or look audtitions up yourself and try for a few roles.

Answer 4

i think of that for the period of installation an actor/actress, success performs its area at-maximum, and then your information, cuz there are hundreds of hundreds of persons already attempting... there is not any harm in attempting and interior the destiny you're able to finally end up an excellent actress. you're able to desire to fill a type until now than auditions yet you don't be attentive to the region and while they're going to held so be attentive.. in addition to participate actual exhibits, many human beings get risk to act from there... P.S. - i'm sixteen too yet failed at my auditions.. all the remarkable to you

Answer 5

The best answer is to join in a drama school or a film institute. However, you required minimum qualifications to join in a theatre institute. So I suggest you to complete your school and try to join in the stream. Now you can brows through various schools and institutes to have an idea regading the curriculum.
Check http://www.bfi.org.uk/education/coursesevents/schools/

Answer 6

Go to drama school. Some people say it is a waste of time but if you are serious and wish for longevity then it is vital. It will help you to meet likeminded people too.

Answer 7

the best ting to do is to look 4 a place were they do a drama and other subjects so u still get the education u need and get 2 do ur Alevels and da rest of it

Answer 8

do an NVQ or A level in performing arts then go on to college/university to study performing arts Bsc hons

Answer 9

go to proscout.com and look and the next interviews and they don't have you pay for it but here is the cool thing they work with really big companies like magazines like elite and TV show like Disney and stay in school

Answer 10

hey good luck i feel like that sometimes im 14 bt every one thinks drama is gay so we dont get to serious about it