Why Do You Want To Be An Actor?

Many people that get into acting think of it as a calling. They often discuss how much they love acting and how they can't imagine ever doing anything else with their life.  It's amusing that many actors I meet can't answer one simple question that I love to ask them. The loaded question is:

Why do you want to be an actor?

In other words, what is it about acting that makes you believe it's the path you should follow?

If you live for the applause and the crowd calling your name, your time in the spotlight normally fades away as you get older and are replaced in the public eye by the "latest thing".

If acting gives you a feeling of self-worth and validation that you otherwise lack, there are issues beyond acting that need to be addressed as soon as possible. The amount of rejection and parts that you don't land will far outweigh the parts that you book. If you don't have a thick skin, this might not be the career path for you.

If you're in it for the money, you're going to be disappointed. The amount of actors making enough money to support themselves purely by acting is small. The amount of actors making a living doing something else while still acting on the side is a far greater number.

However, if you want to be an actor because you enjoy being part of a community that takes chances and constantly improves their skills, you are on the correct path. As I mentioned above, most actors can't imagine doing anything else besides acting. It's important to remember that it is okay to have hobbies and interests beyond acting.  In fact, it's not healthy to obsess about acting 24/7. Being part of a community that pushes you to learn more about your craft and expand your skills is a good thing but please keep it in perspective.

If you want to be an actor to discover who you are right now and who you will be in the future, you're definitely on the right path. Being an actor is a chance to explore your inner self and have fun becoming other people.

Don't jump into being an actor without giving it a proper amount of thought and planning. It's not worth ruining your love of acting if you come to the conclusion that acting is more of a hobby and less of a career choice for you.

This guy wants to make his living as a professional actor.