Annual Salary
variable
Average UK salary in 2022 was £33,200
(source Office for National Statistics)
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Actors use speech, movement and expression to bring characters to life in theatre, film, television and radio.
Average UK salary in 2022 was £33,200
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; away from home
There will be
0.5% more Actor jobs in 2027.
You could:
You could work in a theatre, on a film set or at a recording studio.
Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding and you may spend nights away from home.
You can get into this job through:
You could do a foundation degree, degree or postgraduate diploma in a subject such as:
You could join your university drama or theatre society to develop a network of contacts and get performance experience.
You'll usually need:
There is no set entry route to become an actor but it may be useful to do a course like:
You'll usually need:
Acting is very competitive and you'll need to develop your skills by getting as much acting experience as possible.
You might get experience by joining:
Societies and theatre groups also help you meet other people in the acting profession. It can be useful to have contacts when looking for work.
You may be able to find work by applying directly for roles if you have a lot of experience and exceptional acting talent.
You can study with a private drama school or conservatoire. You can choose from full time courses, short courses and summer schools.
You'll need to pass an audition to get into a drama school. You may also need A levels or a Level 3 Diploma in Performing Arts. This is not always essential if you can show enough talent and commitment.
You could also take graded exams in acting, musical theatre and performance art at:
Funding
You may be able to apply for a Dance and Drama Award to help with fees and living costs at a private drama school.
You'll need to get as much experience of acting as you can. You can give showreels and headshots to agents and casting directors.
You can join Equity who are a professional body. They can help you find jobs, training opportunities and contacts.
You'll need to have earned money from an acting job or be a student or graduate to join Equity.
You can find out more about becoming an actor through Get into Theatre and Discover Creative Careers.
You may need another job to get the money you need while you search for acting roles or when you're between acting jobs.
During your acting career you may move between roles in theatre, TV, film or radio.
There are also opportunities to work in new fields like online content or voice acting for games.
Agents
As an actor you're likely to work freelance through an agent who will put you forward for auditions and castings.
Agents usually take a fee of about 10% to 25% from your earnings.
Working in other areas
You can transfer acting skills to many other fields, especially where creativity, team working, communication and presentation skills are important.
You could also train to move into directing, scriptwriting, drama therapy or teaching.
You'll need to get as much practical experience of acting as you can, and create a show-reel to demonstrate your acting skills to agents and casting directors.
You can join Equity for professional recognition, training opportunities and to make industry contacts.
You can find out more about becoming an actor through Creative Choices. You can also get extra support from organisations like Shape Arts, if you have a disability or special learning need.
You'll need: