\n<\/p>\n
I was introduced to a rather well-established Australian director a few years ago. When I told him I was an actor, he said: \u201cAwesome. It takes a while, you know.\u201d<\/em> It was a refreshing break from the usual \u201cOh that\u2019s a tough gig, do you have a plan B?\u201d<\/em> And it\u2019s a good bit of off-handed advice that I come back to whenever I feel like things are moving a bit slowly, career-wise. <\/span>But it certainly raises another question. How long is a while? How long does it take to become a successful actor?<\/span><\/p>\n The time it takes to become a successful actor depends on a multitude of factors, not least of which is your definition of success. Different pathways offer different roads towards a satisfying acting career; while there is no guarantee of wealth and recognition, there are things within your power to do that will help maximise your chances of succeeding.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n One of the most common things you\u2019ll hear as an actor is that a career takes patience and persistence. If you hang in there long enough, you\u2019ll make it. It\u2019s great advice\u2013so great that I offer it in just about every article I write\u2013but I think it\u2019s worth addressing just how much patience we need. The main reason people give up on acting is the length of time it takes for things to happen.<\/span><\/p>\n So, when does it all pay off?<\/span><\/p>\n You\u2019ve probably heard all about those late-bloomer success stories in Hollywood. Actors love to remind each other that Morgan Freeman, Ian McKellen and Samuel L. Jackson didn\u2019t hit it big until they were well into their 40s. What often gets left out when idolising these veterans\u2019 tales of success is the years and years of work they, among so many others, put in to get to that point.<\/span><\/p>\n Overnight success stories are often the stuff of myth and legend\u2013anyone who tells you acting is an easy profession deserves a friendly smile and a comforting pat on the shoulder. So let\u2019s put them aside and look at a few different pathways you might encounter in your life, if you\u2019re not on one of them already.<\/span><\/p>\n Some people start working in film, television and theatre from a very young age. Sometimes it\u2019s a matter of having the right connections\u2013maybe their parents are established in the industry. And sometimes it comes down to having the right look for a particular role. A lot of the time it comes down to confidence: the ability to put themselves out there and show vulnerability<\/a> when so many children tend to lock up with shyness.<\/span><\/p>\n Fun fact: a mixture of these qualities is usually what people refer to as talent<\/a>. Click the link to our article on the subject, it\u2019s often illuminating for those who either fear they don\u2019t have it, or rest on the assurance that they do\u2026<\/p>\n Child stars tend to experience success early; however, the longevity of their career is never guaranteed. Some make the jump to acting when they grow up, some lose the knack and others lose interest in favour of another field.\u00a0Getting lucky and having enough talent to meet the luck early in life (Leonardo DiCaprio) can set kids up for major success later down the track. But it\u2019s by no means a guarantee that you\u2019ll become a successful actor.<\/span><\/p>\n Almost everyone who goes to drama school secretly thinks they\u2019re going to hit it big as soon as they graduate. I know this because I was one such case. Whilst it didn\u2019t happen for me, it certainly happened to a few people I know. <\/span><\/p>\n At that stage in your career, you\u2019ve learned enough about the craft to hold your own in front of a casting director<\/a>, audience or a camera but you\u2019re likely jumping into the industry with little to no credits on your resume. The biggest challenge with landing roles at this point in life is maintaining professionalism and staying realistic until you prove yourself.<\/span><\/p>\n Drama school equips you with some training, some contacts and a terrific community of like-minded peers. It doesn\u2019t guarantee success\u2014nor does it conveniently skip you from early- to mid-career. <\/span>The best thing I think one can do at this stage is put all of their focus on treating everyone with respect and kindness, and making sure they continue to train and grow throughout this early stage of their career.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019m using this label \u201cindependent\u201d to refer to an actor who eschews the traditional drama school path. Some are totally untrained\u2014which is rare. Others might have a theatre degree or some performing credits under their belt from university.<\/p>\n Generally, without the leg-up of early experience or drama school training and connections, the path to success for independents is longer, and, more difficult. However, this path rewards those with the gumption to seek out their own opportunities, not only as actors but as writers, directors, producers: creators of their own work.<\/p>\n To become a successful actor as an independent, you\u2019ll still need training\u2013or at the very least a focus on developing your skills. Take a drama class<\/a>, start a scene study group<\/a> with your peers and keep auditioning<\/a>. If you are diligent in your work, you\u2019ll find that you eventually surpass your drama grad peers who think three years of training is all they\u2019ll ever need.<\/p>\n StageMilk\u2019s very own Scene Club<\/a> is a great place to do study as an independent. And our list of members with successful, fulfilling careers is long and proud!<\/p>\n As above, a quick clarification: I\u2019m using amateur to describe an actor who aspires to work in local community theatre, and pursues their craft for love, not necessarily career. Funnily enough, that\u2019s the origin of the word; \u201camateur\u201d gets a bad rap in a world that pushes a lot of us to make every waking minute a push for financial worth.<\/p>\n But to step down off the barricade for a moment: the amateur actor\u2019s career path is a lot quicker. It\u2019s often heavily reliant on what your community is like, and your place within that space. For instance, you may have to pay your dues in lesser roles at the local am-dram society; however, if you can prove yourself a worthy performer and member of the team, the sky\u2019s the limit.<\/p>\n My advice to you is still to work on your skills. Develop your craft, take a class here or there and research all things acting. You\u2019ll find your path to becoming a successful actor is always quicker when people can rely on your talents and hard work, production after production.<\/p>\n Finally, the veterans: the people with whom this article began.\u00a0<\/span>After developing a frontal lobe and going to drama school and working in theatre and film for many years, these actors get their breakout role later\u2014after they\u2019ve had a fair whack of life experience. <\/span><\/p>\n Sometimes they\u2019re familiar to us. They\u2019re fantastic in That One Thing, or memorable in This Great Show Everyone Keeps Recommending. And then suddenly, they explode: they\u2019re winning awards, they\u2019re gracing magazine covers. They seem to be starring in every film coming out in the next six months.<\/p>\n Actors who follow this path tend to land well, as they\u2019ve had plenty of time to learn what does and doesn\u2019t work in sustaining a lasting and fulfilling career, if even on the fringes of the industry.<\/span><\/p>\n But never forget that a veteran\u2019s success is testament to a lifetime of hard work, rather than some lucky break. Remember, there\u2019s no such thing as an overnight success. Anybody touted as that is being marketed to you by an interested party.<\/p>\n If you clicked into this article with the \u201chow long\u201d part of the question in mind, you\u2019re probably not surprised to hear that it varies. Just for a moment, though, let\u2019s focus on the other part: the \u201csuccess\u201d. You have plans to become a successful actor? Who doesn\u2019t! But what does success look like to you?<\/p>\n How do you define success? And that\u2019s\u00a0you<\/em>, not anybody else. Thousands of actors go their whole careers without ever stepping foot in the limelight. Some do commercials for forty years and never once command a starring role. Some actors only play villains in horror movies<\/a>, others the supportive best friend in glasses. Does that make them unsuccessful? You\u2019d have to ask them.<\/span><\/p>\n When I set out on the path of an actor, the allure of fame and fortune was undeniable. I fantasised about it a lot and thought that surely if I worked hard enough, I was destined for it. Hell, I still do fantasise about it occasionally, but I\u2019ve learned a lot since my days of high-school theatre.<\/span><\/p>\n My personal ideas of success are no longer attached to becoming a famous actor and are now more geared towards the kinds of projects I want to work on. That\u2019s my goal. And when I think about it in that way: I\u2019m living the dream every time I focus on my craft.<\/span><\/p>\n So there you have it: how long it takes to become a successful actor (provided you paint success, acting and time in very broad strokes.) There are a myriad of pathways to becoming an actor, and the scenarios I\u2019ve outlined above only scratch the surface.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Jamie Lee Curtis talks about how after a job, she\u2019s unemployed. And whilst she is fortunate enough to be in a position that she feels confident she\u2019ll find work again, there is always the chance that one day, you simply won\u2019t be what people want to see on TV anymore. It\u2019s no surprise that she continues finding compelling work to this day\u2014armed by the knowledge that it may all vanish in a second.<\/span><\/p>\n So take the time to answer this question for yourself: what do you want, how will you achieve your goals and what kind of time are you willing to put into it? And then, ever so gently but ever so constantly, remind yourself that this kind of life is about the journey as much as the destination.<\/span><\/p>\n Hope this helped. See you round the traps!<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nThe Timeline(s) of Success<\/strong><\/h2>\n
The Child Star<\/strong><\/h3>\n
The Drama School Grad<\/strong><\/h3>\n
The Independent<\/h3>\n
The Amateur<\/h3>\n
The Veterans<\/strong><\/h3>\n
How do you Define Success?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n