While some may consider it to be one of the most difficult and competitive professions, there are important preparatory steps that can be taken in order to become a well-known actress. To succeed as an actress, one must have the patience and perseverance to deal with a fluctuating and diverse work schedule. An actress should be willing to accept work when it is offered; waiting for the “perfect” job could mean years of waiting for the desired acting job. An actress should be well-educated in her field, willing to network and interact with industry professionals and other actors, open to a highly flexible schedule, and maintain an upbeat, persistent attitude to help ensure a consistent acting career that may lead to new opportunities.
An actress’ education and experience, like that of many other professions, may be critical in securing the ideal job. There are no guarantees of advancement or a steady, consistent workload, unlike in some professions. A resume that demonstrates an actress’ acting abilities, previous accomplishments, and current goals will appeal to industry officials far more than one that reflects little or no acting experience. It is unrealistic to expect an actress to develop into a professional overnight. Before achieving national or even regional success, serious actors may spend years studying and researching; veteran actors may need months, if not years, of preparation for a single role.
Following some form of education or acting experience, a headshot, or simply a photograph, should be created, along with a resumé of previous acting experience, to be distributed to acting agencies. An actress is usually assigned to a talent agent an acting agency, whose job it is to help them find work. Although hiring an agent is not required, it may make it easier to break into the industry with the help of industry professionals. Even so, some actresses work on their own, looking for work the same way everyone else does: online, in newspapers, and through classified ads.
Location is a final consideration in the quest to become an actress. Despite the fact that major metropolitan areas such as Hollywood and New York tend to focus more on acting than others, moving to California should not be considered a requirement for becoming an actress. There are a plethora of acting and talent agencies all over the world that specialize in finding new talent for roles in television commercials, films, theater, and other jobs where actors may be cast as extras. While these jobs may not be the most glamorous for a rising Hollywood star, many of today’s most well-known actresses began their careers in these smaller, possibly non-speaking roles and worked their way up to international fame moving from job to job.