We surveyed 8,259 actors to better understand the work environment and required skills of a typical actor. Here are the results.
How much intelligence is required as an actor?
Low
High
Working as an actor typically doesn’t require the use of high levels of intelligence in daily tasks.
Can I learn to become an actor?
Intrinsic Talent
Acquired Talent
A career as an actor typically depends predominantly on qualities you can gain through experience, with a small aspect of skills you are born with.
Is it easy to get a job as an actor?
Easy
Hard
It’s typically quite difficult to find a job as an actor. If you’re curious about the numbers, check out the job market for actors.
Do actors work full-time or part-time?
23% of actors work in full-time roles while 77% work part-time.
Is being an actor stressful?
Low
High
Stress is very commonplace for actors, contributing negatively towards career satisfaction.
Is being organized important as an actor?
Low
High
Some level of organization is generally required to be an actor.
How competitive is the workplace for actors?
Low
High
Actors tend to see lots of competition in the workplace, with desire to get ahead of co-workers being common.
Does being an actor require frequent time pressure to complete tasks?
Low
High
Actors will see frequent time pressure on the job, likely contributing to an occasionally stressful work environment.
Are actors allowed to express themselves creatively?
Low
High
Creativity is intrinsic to being an actor, and a highly valuable part of the career.
Do actors have control over the direction of their work?
Low
High
While sometimes the direction is set, occasionally actors will have some flexibility over the direction of their work.
Is being an actor physically demanding?
Low
High
Being an actor requires significant physical work, and is not a career for those unable to perform continuous and/or strenuous physical activity.
Are actors exposed to a wide variety of work?
Low
High
The workload of an actor changes frequently, with their day-to-day rarely being the same.
Does being an actor require attention to detail?
Low
High
As in many careers, attention to detail is quite helpful for actors.
Does being a good actor require compassion and empathy?
Low
High
Strong compassion and empathy are critical to success as an actor.