Many people wonder “Are actors happy?”, and I can tell you that becoming an actor is full of so many joys and things to celebrate. From connection to others to self-expression, the benefits of being an actor are numerous. If you’re thinking of pursuing acting and weighing up the pros and cons of actor, I’m here to help you out and let you know about the 20 benefits of being an actor.
20 Benefits of Being an Actor: The full lowdown
1. Work doing something you enjoy
The first of our 20 benefits of being an actor is simple – it’s fun! Most people who pursue acting do it because it’s something they love to do. Being able to spend more of your time doing something that you find interesting and that brings you joy is a definite perk to this job.
2. Meet interesting and creative people
When you are an actor you will get to meet and work with lots of interesting and creative people. From directors to writers to costume designers to other actors. You are sure to come across many interesting characters living the actor lifestyle.
3. Creative Fulfilment
As an actor, you will be able to embrace your creative side, develop your skills, and create work that means something to you. Being part of a project you are proud of will give you a sense of gratification, achievement and creative fulfilment.
4. Personal Growth
The actor lifestyle will present you with several opportunities for growth. From things like discipline and social skills to the more artistic elements of acting, such as empathy or getting in touch with your inner emotions. Mindfulness is a key acting skill to practice at home and engaging with these things will help you develop and grow as a person.
5. Travel Opportunities
Being an actor can present you with travel opportunities and the chance to go to places you may not have been able to go to otherwise. Whether it’s a theatrical tour or filming overseas there are many opportunities for you to travel to new places when living the actor lifestyle.
6. Job Variety
No two jobs are the same when you’re an actor. One week you could be playing a doctor, and the next an alien from outer space. Not only this but you will be working in different places with different people. There’s little chance of getting bored when you never know what’s coming next.
7. Learn New Things
Acting presents us with endless learning opportunities. For example, you may learn new skills for a role, such as roller skating or horse riding. You may engage in research about different eras or locations. You will always learn new things about how people think and how they behave.
8. Bringing Joy And Comfort To Others
Theatre and film can connect with people’s deepest emotions. As actors, we are able to entertain people, make them laugh, make them cry, and even bring them comfort in times of hardship. To be able to create something meaningful is one of the great privileges of being an actor.
9. Advocate For Causes You Care About
Being involved in theatre or film means that you will have a platform where you can advocate for causes that are important to you. This may mean taking on projects that represent and discuss issues you think are important, like the ever-changing bias on actresses’ attractiveness. If you end up with a big public platform, you may wish to use this to personally advocate for those issues too.
10. Collaborative Working
When working on projects as an actor, you will often be working closely with other creatives. The nature of these close-knit teams means that you will likely form strong bonds and friendships with the people you work with. The actor lifestyle will allow you to create a strong community of like-minded people.
Sometimes you are lucky enough to work with a good director who collaborates with actors. When everyone is involved in the vision, the creative fulfilment is stronger.
11. High Earning Potential
Whilst most actors aren’t on the highest of incomes, the potential earnings in this industry are enormous. Actors working on famous projects can become extremely wealthy. Even being cast in one commercial can sometimes keep your expenses covered for months, if not years.
12. Leave A Legacy
As an actor, your work will be contributing to the history of theatre or film. You could be part of a cultural movement, discuss current issues, and inspire future generations of actors. Being involved in film in particular means that your work will be recorded, meaning that future generations will be able to appreciate your craft too.
13. Overcoming fears
The actor lifestyle means you may be faced with fears that you will have to overcome in order to do your work. Common fears you may be faced with are public speaking or stage fright, rejection, criticism and fear of the unknown. Acting will give you the opportunity to confront and overcome these fears.
14. Become part of a larger narrative
When you take on a role, you become part of a story that is bigger than yourself. Not only are you becoming part of the history of theatre or film, but you are also engaging with concepts that are often universal. You may reflect on social issues, represent culture or preserve history, as well as engage with concepts such as love, loss and identity.
15. Community Engagement
There are many ways to engage with your community as an actor, such as representing the communities and cultures you are a part of. You may even wish to specialise in community theatre, theatre in education, or get involved in teaching or mentorship. This type of engagement can make acting very fulfilling work.
16. Public Recognition
Sometimes, it can be nice to get recognition for a job well done. You may hear from audience members or others within your industry about how much they enjoy your work. Famous actors are often widely recognised for being highly skilled.
17. Explore lives outside your own
As an actor, it will be your job to understand the experience of others. This means you will be required to research and immerse yourself in lives outside of your own. This will broaden your perspective, increase your empathy, and allow you to explore life’s many possibilities.
18. Unique work environments
When working as an actor, you may find yourself in any number of unique environments. Filming can take place in almost any type of location. You could also end up doing site-specific or immersive theatre which often takes place in non-traditional theatrical locations, such as in castles or woodlands.
19. Opportunity for self-expression
Acting can be a very personal experience and can provide an opportunity for self-expression. Unlike many other professions, we are encouraged to connect to our emotions, as well as reflect on our own experiences, opinions and to find our own voice. This can make for a very freeing and meaningful kind of work.
20. Sense of belonging
Thanks to the sense of camaraderie felt among castmates, theatre groups, colleagues, and peers within the industry, being an actor can feel like finding a community to belong to. In a space where you can express yourself and collaborate with others, the actor lifestyle can be a real opportunity to find your tribe.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is it a good idea to become an actor?
This depends on what your goal is, and you may have to weigh up the pros and cons of acting. It can be an unstable and stressful profession. However, it can also be fulfilling and rewarding. Take a look at the 20 benefits of being an actor on this list, and see if any resonate with you.
2. Is being an actor rewarding?
Being an actor can give you a sense of creative fulfilment, self-expression and connection to others, which can all feel very rewarding. When we ask “Are actors happy?”, it’s important to remember the inner rewards that come with the craft, alongside potential external rewards.
3. What are the pros and cons of acting?
There are many pros and cons of acting. Some pros of being an actor include enjoyable work, collaborative working, job variety and creative fulfilment. There are almost 20 more benefits of being an actor on this list! Cons of being an actor include financial insecurity, lack of job security and high levels of rejection. You can go and read Blooper’s post on 10 Bad Things About Being An Actor to find out more.
4. What age is too late for acting?
It is never too late to start acting! Actors such as Harrison Ford, Daniel Glover, and Samuel L Jackson are all known for making it in acting later in life. If they can do it, why can’t you?
In Conclusion: We love acting!
That sums up the 20 benefits of being an actor, from creative fulfilment and personal growth to the joy of connecting with audiences and advocating for meaningful causes. Whilst there are many pros and cons of acting to weigh up, this is a craft that can be fulfilling, enjoyable, and inspiring.