How to Become an Actor: From Training to Representation

The life of an actor is not an easy one. It’s unpredictable, competitive, and full of rejection. At the heart of it, what keeps actors going is a love for the craft, not the ambition to be famous.

If your only goal is fame, you’ll almost certainly be disappointed I'm afraid! Fame depends on luck, timing, and trends, things outside your control. Even when people achieve it, it rarely delivers the satisfaction they expected.

The actors who sustain fulfilling careers are the ones who fall in love with the work: rehearsal, collaboration, and the chance to tell and immerse themselves in stories. They simply cannot see themselves doing anything else!

If you have decided acting is something you want to pursue, you need to take your time. The road to being an actor is a long and bumpy one. It requires commitment, consistency, and a willingness to keep showing up, learning, and putting the work in.

With that mindset, the next steps can begin to take shape: choosing the right training for you, gaining experience, learning how to find work yourself, and eventually seeking the support of an agent.

Step 1: Choosing the Right Training

Training is the starting point for most actors and you will never stop learning and practicing your craft. It gives you the skills to perform, the discipline to improve, and the confidence to step into a rehearsal room. There are different ways to approach it, depending on your circumstances and goals:

• Full-time drama school or Universities (BA or MA courses): Intensive and accredited, often with the benefit of Spotlight membership and strong industry links. They can be valuable but are costly, competitive, and not realistic for everyone, especially for those starting later in life.

  
  

• Part-time or evening classes: A flexible choice for people balancing work, study, or family. These don’t always provide automatic Spotlight referral (look out for ones that do!), but they still offer solid actor training and practical experience.

  
  

• Short or specialist courses: Training focused on areas like accents, stage combat, or improvisation. These can complement other commitments and help you develop specific skills beyond your core training.

  
  

A degree or drama school training isn’t the only route into the profession. Many actors build their careers through alternative pathways. What matters most is that your training helps you develop as a performer and prepares you for the practical realities of the industry - auditions, contracts, self-promotion, and the resilience needed to keep going.

Step 2: Representing Yourself as an Actor

When you finish a course or programme, it can feel daunting, but it doesn’t mean your development is finished, training is a lifelong part of being an actor and it's important to keep building and practicing your skills.

What changes at this stage is that you also need to start representing yourself and build your acting c.v.! Focus on:

• Getting professional headshots: these are one of the most important tools you have. Casting directors often make decisions based on a first glance, and a strong, up-to-date headshot can determine whether you’re called in for an audition.

• Building credits through short films, student projects, and fringe theatre. Each role teaches you something and adds to your CV and showreel.

• Creating your own work to show initiative and develop your identity as a performer.

• Using Spotlight wisely (once eligible): keep your profile up to date and understand its limits for unrepresented actors.

• Networking: Look for opportunities to build connections with other actors, directors, and creatives.

This stage is about gaining experience, learning how the industry works, and showing you can take responsibility for your own career. Every project, big or small, helps you build the resilience and professionalism that agents and casting directors look for.

For a fuller breakdown of how to represent yourself, see our guide: How to Represent Yourself as an Actor

Step 3: Finding an Agent

Eventually, you’ll want an agent. The right agent opens doors and helps you navigate the professional side of the industry, but they can’t create a career out of thin air. Agents look for actors who are already committed, proactive, and developing their craft.

Approaching agents is less about “being discovered” and more about starting a professional partnership. That’s why blanket emails or fame-driven pitches don’t work. Agents want to know that you are grounded in the work and are ready to work professionally.

Our blog, Writing to Agents: A Guide for Actors Without Representation, gives you the details on how to do this well. In short: research carefully, keep your emails professional, and focus on showing your skills and readiness!

Final Thoughts

A career in acting is never guaranteed. But if you focus on your craft, the joy of performance, the process of collaboration and your ongoing development, you’ll build something that can sustain and fulfil you through its highs and lows.