How to become an actor : training (part 1)

How do you become an actor to work in film, theatre or television? There is no one golden rule on how to do this, but in most cases you need training to get you started.

-             Training and workshops

Acting is a craft that is difficult to master when starting out. Depending on what you want to do in your career, you need at least a foundation to understand what it takes to become a professional actor.

Getting lessons or practicing with your local theatre company is a good start to help you build rapport with other actors, to train you on how to react to situations and to improvise.

There are various schools of thought, techniques and philosophies behind acting but to have a natural ability to do so is rare. Yes there are thousands of actors in major cities competing for roles and to stand out you really need dedication and talent

So where does one find training, acting courses that would apply to become an actor? Ask yourself what is it that you would like to do? There are different kinds of courses that you can apply for, from doing a 3 year drama course as a degree to acting for camera.

If you are a undergraduate and you want to pursue acting, there are universities around the world that have drama programs. Alternatively you can go to a professional drama school or theatre company that will train you for a number of years.

Perhaps you are in education or have finished university and are wondering how to get started. It is never too late. You can try evening courses, acting workshops or even a summer school.

Have a look at our other useful articles to help you:

Where to find auditions
10 ways to Make money as an actor
Working as an extra
How to become an actor: Getting roles in student movies (part 2)