Six Myths About Acting That You Need to Stop Believing
If you want to be an actor, you might have some preconceived notions about what it takes to make it in show business. You may have heard stories about how tough the industry is and how actors have to sacrifice everything to achieve their dreams. While there is some truth to these stories, there are also a lot of myths about acting that can hold you back from achieving your goals. Here are six myths about acting that you need to stop believing.
1. You need to be born with talent.
This simply isn’t true. While some people may be born with a natural inclination towards acting, anyone can learn the craft with enough practice and dedication. If you’re passionate about acting and are willing to put in the work, you can achieve success in the industry.
However, there are those who believe that actors are born with talent. They point to the fact that many successful actors come from families of actors. They argue that it’s simply in their DNA.
So, what’s the truth? Are actors born with talent? Or is acting a skill that can be learned? The answer may lie somewhere in between.
2. You need connections to make it big.
Having connections can certainly help you get your foot in the door, but it’s not necessary to have them in order to be successful. There are many actors who have a great acting career without any connections whatsoever.
What you should do is start networking and building up your contacts. It’s essential to your success. The more connections you have, the better your chances of making it big in the acting world.
The best way to network for actors is to get involved in the community. Get to know other actors, directors, and producers. Attend industry events and functions. And most importantly, be yourself. Be friendly, approachable and professional, and you’ll be sure to make the right connections.
3. You need to be extroverted to be a successful actor.
While it is true that many successful actors are extroverted, there are also many successful actors who are introverted. The key is to know your strengths and weaknesses and to play to them.
If you are an introverted actor, don’t try to force yourself to be someone you’re not. Instead, focus on the acting roles that allow you to shine. You may find that you excel in more intimate scenes or in characters that are introspective.
4. Acting is all about glamor and fame.
There is certainly an element of glitz and glamor associated with being an actor (especially the first time you walk the red carpet!), but it’s not the only thing. Being on set for 12-18 hours a day, missing family functions and not getting enough sleep are some of the things to consider when in the entertainment field. Not very glamorous sounding to me.
5. Acting is a lonely profession. You’ll never make any real friends by being in this business.
Actors are people, too, and they need friends just like everyone else. Having friends is an important part of life, and it helps to keep us sane. It can be difficult for actors to have what people consider “real” friends because their lives are so different from others.
Most of us live a relatively normal life where we go to work, come home and spend time with our families and friends. We may have hobbies or interests that we pursue in our free time. Actors, on the other hand, often lead very different lives. They may be working long hours on set, or traveling to different locations for filming. This can make it difficult for them to maintain close friendships.
That’s not to say that actors can’t have real friends; they just might have fewer close friends than the average person.
6. Get a real job.
Another myth is that actors are always unemployed and struggling to make ends meet. While it’s true that acting can be an unstable profession, many actors are able to find steady work in television and film. There are also many opportunities for stage work, voiceover work and commercial work.
These myths are usually based on outdated information or personal experiences that are not representative of the industry as a whole. The truth is that acting can be a very rewarding and successful career, as long as you are willing to work hard and put in the time to learn the craft.
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Ilana Rapp is a media-savvy Generation Xer with instinctive wit, quick humor and a taste for deep human emotions. As a former (child) actress with Broadway, film and television credits, she is adept at, well, lots of things.
