What You'll Do

  • Study and rehearse roles from scripts to interpret, learn and memorize lines, stunts, and cues as directed.
  • Work closely with directors, other actors, and playwrights to find the interpretation most suited to the role.
  • Learn about characters in scripts and their relationships to each other to develop role interpretations.
  • Collaborate with other actors as part of an ensemble.
  • Perform humorous and serious interpretations of emotions, actions, and situations, using body movements, facial expressions, and gestures.
  • Attend auditions and casting calls to audition for roles.
  • Portray and interpret roles, using speech, gestures, and body movements, to entertain, inform, or instruct radio, film, television, or live audiences.
  • Work with other crew members responsible for lighting, costumes, make-up, and props.
  • Sing or dance during dramatic or comedic performances.
  • Read from scripts or books to narrate action or to inform or entertain audiences, utilizing few or no stage props.

Essential Skills

Reading Comprehension 3.88/5
Speaking 3.88/5
Active Listening 3.75/5
Social Perceptiveness 3.75/5
Critical Thinking 3.0/5
Monitoring 3.0/5
Time Management 3.0/5
Writing 2.88/5
Coordination 2.88/5
Complex Problem Solving 2.88/5
Judgment and Decision Making 2.88/5
Learning Strategies 2.75/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to understand the kind of profile this role rewards. It helps you judge whether this career looks like a stronger match than your current role, a nearby move worth exploring, or a broader path to compare more seriously.

Top passions

  • Artist: Creating original work and expressing ideas feels natural.
  • Helper: Supporting people and making a difference matters to you.
  • Leader: Taking charge and moving ideas forward motivates you.

Common styles

Adaptability, Self-Confidence, Innovation, Social Orientation, Cooperation

Want a personal read on fit? Take the free assessment and compare this career to your current role, nearby alternatives, and broader stronger-fit options.

Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Oral Expression 4.12/5
Oral Comprehension 4.0/5
Written Comprehension 3.88/5
Memorization 3.88/5
Speech Clarity 3.88/5
Originality 3.75/5
Near Vision 3.62/5
Problem Sensitivity 3.12/5

Technologies & Tools

Apple Final Cut Pro Email software Facebook FileMaker Pro Instagram LinkedIn Linux Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word Motion capture software TikTok Twitter Web browser software Website development software Word processing software YouTube Zoom

Work Environment & Strengths

Common Strengths for This Career

  • Adaptability (High importance: 4.73/5)
  • Self-Confidence (High importance: 4.65/5)
  • Innovation (High importance: 4.55/5)
  • Social Orientation (High importance: 4.54/5)
  • Cooperation (High importance: 4.53/5)

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How to Become One

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful but is usually not required. Training is often provided on the job.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Actor Actor Understudy Actress Background Actor Character Artist Character Performer Comedian Comic Community Theater Actor Double Dramatic Reader Elocutionist Ensemble Member Entertainer Extra Illusionist Impersonator Mime Minstrel Monologist Motion Picture Actor Movie Actor Movie Extra Movie Star Movie Stunt Performer Narrator Performer Puppeteer Ring Conductor Role Player Show Girl Soubrette Stand-In Standardized Patient Stunt Double Stunt Driver Stunt Performer Stunt Person Stunt Woman Television Actor Theater Team Member Theatrical Performer Theatrical Trouper Thrill Performer Tour Actor Vaudeville Actor Ventriloquist Voice Actor Voice-Over Artist

Career Fit FAQs

Is this career a good fit for me

This page shows the role itself. To see personal fit, use the assessment to compare your interests, motivations, and strengths against this career and against the role you are in now.

Can this help if I want to stay in my field

Yes. Many people use career pages like this to compare nearby roles in the same field and see whether they need a full switch or a better-fit version of the work they already know.

What should I compare first

Start with the daily tasks, the preparation level, and the work-style signals on this page. Then use the assessment to see whether this role looks like a stronger fit than your current role or just a different title.