Work Environment
This occupation is typically found in the following Career Sector(s):
Videos & Interviews
Videos on the Web
- Actor- from: Youtube Search
- How to Become an Actor in Film and Television- from: Acting Career Center [Video]
- How to Get Into Professional Acting- from: Actors Anonymous UK [Video]
Most commonly reported Work Activities
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
- Performing General Physical Activities Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
- Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Handling and Moving Objects Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
- Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
Working Life
The job of the actor/actress is to portray and bring to life a character from the screenplay. To do this they must learn the lines/dialogue, adopt the characteristics of the person they are playing, and follow the actions of the script.
Supervised and guided by the director, the actor must bring a realistic and truthful performance so the audience believes the character.
Actors/Actresses are selected by the director or casting director. They may have to audition for the role where they will perform a short scene provided by the filmmakers. It is not uncommon for actors to attend many auditions before being selected for a film.
Works with
- Director
- Casting Director
- Agents
- Actors
- Media
Most commonly reported Work Tasks
- Collaborate with other actors as part of an ensemble.
- Portray and interpret roles, using speech, gestures, and body movements, to entertain, inform, or instruct radio, film, television, or live audiences.
- Work closely with directors, other actors, and playwrights to find the interpretation most suited to the role.
- Perform humorous and serious interpretations of emotions, actions, and situations, using body movements, facial expressions, and gestures.
- Study and rehearse roles from scripts to interpret, learn and memorise lines, stunts, and cues as directed.
- Learn about characters in scripts and their relationships to each other to develop role interpretations.
- Attend auditions and casting calls to audition for roles.
- Sing or dance during dramatic or comedic performances.
- Work with other crew members responsible for lighting, costumes, make-up, and props.
- Tell jokes, perform comic dances, songs and skits, impersonate mannerisms and voices of others, contort face, and use other devices to amuse audiences.
Further Information
- Actor- from: N.C.S. [UK]
- Drama therapist- from: N.C.S. [UK]
- How to Become an Actor- from: The Art Career Project
- How to Get an Agent in Ireland- from: Spotlight
Qualities - Actor
Is this role right for me?
For this role, you need:
To be able to express truthful emotions.
Good screen and vocal presence.
Confidence, self-belief, patience.
Understanding of the creative process.
The role in more detail:
Actors/Actresses must be familiar with how a Film or TV set works and the roles of each crew member. Other useful tools in the actors’ repertoire include the ability to provide voice-overs (commercials, documentary or animation), movement (dance or stunts), accents, singing, and combat.
The actor can use a variety of techniques in their work, including Stanislavski, Method, Meisner, and Minimalist, but usually they must deliver the tone and style of the film or TV programme.
A successful actor may also need to understand how to promote their work.
Interests - Actor
This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:
Creative
Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.
Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.
Linguistic
The Linguistic's interests are usually focused on ideas and information exchange. They tend to like reading a lot, and enjoy discussion about what has been said. Some will want to write about their own ideas and may follow a path towards journalism, story writing or editing. Others will develop skills in other languages, perhaps finding work as a translator or interpreter. Most Linguistic types will enjoy the opportunity to teach or instruct people in a topic they are interested in.
Enterprising
Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.
Entry / Progression - Actor
Education Route: Qualifications in Acting/Theatre/Drama can be beneficial.
Career Path to Actor: Some actors start very young in amateur drama or school plays. Some go to Drama school after they finish school. Some can be picked at random by a talent scout, and others start by gaining experience as an extra. Many begin by creating their own work, building up a CV and Show Reel of clips from small jobs like short films and commercials.
Career Path from Actor: Small roles, co-star, guest star, recurring roles, supporting, and lead roles in films and TV.
Pay & Salary - Actor
Salary Range (thousands per year)* €17k - €81k
Performers at the peak of the profession may command higher income, but for most wages will fall into a lower band.Work can be sessional, project based, and a portfolio of incomes in your acting career.
Irishequity.ie states that "empirical evidence estimates that the average income of professional actors from their work as actors is under €15,000, with half earning €8,000 or less and very few have pension provision."
Basic Income for Artists
Data Source(s):
Indeed.ie/ Eireri.com/ Irish Equity.ie/ DEASP
Last Updated: February, 2024
Labour Market Updates - Actor
Note: The following information relates to occupations that include: Artists, Authors, writers and translators, Actors, entertainers and presenters, Dancers and choreographers, Musicians, Arts officers, producers and directors, Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators, Graphic designers, Product, clothing and related designers.
This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2024).
Employment growth was almost on a par with the national average for this occupation; employment grew strongly between 2021 and 2022 but declined slightly thereafter. Based on the CSO Census data, over a quarter were graphic designers, with other key roles including actors, authors/writers, photographers, artists and arts officers.
Employment permits issued in 2023 were primarily for roles in animation, film and TV. Online job adverts (Eurostat/CEDEFOP) related mainly to graphic designers. At present, the data does not indicate that issues exist in sourcing skills for this occupation.
Useful Contacts - Actor
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Project Arts Centre
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Irish Actors Equity Group (SIPTU)
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Gaiety School of Acting
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Abbey Theatre
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Gate Theatre
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Olympia Theatre
- Dame Street, Dublin 2
- (01) 679 3323
- Click Here
