What is the Role and Main Features of a Successful Actor

In this essay, I will discuss the roles and key features of an actor, and how this may lead to success within their chosen career. There are several roles and key features that an actor/professional actor requires to make then successful. Some of the features I will be discussing are: the actor’s stage, screen and vocal presence, their ability to enter into another character and the skill of engaging with the audience as well as the ability to memorise lines. Of equal importance, I will also discuss the resilience and stamina an actor requires in order to have a long and rewarding career.

Skills an actor needs include creativity, speaking skills, literacy and reading skills, memorization, physical stamina, persistence, discipline, dedication, and ability to communicate with a wide variety of people. Physical stamina is important in becoming a professional actor because it allows much more fluent movement on stage.

Research shows that a vast majority of qualified actors struggle to find employment within the industry. This therefore, requires a large amount of resilience and stamina in order to pursue their chosen path. Furthermore, I will also be discussing the training of an actor, the educational requirements within the industry and performance skills required.

An overview of an actor’s role is to portray characters in movies, television and live performances. This can be done by changing posture, voice, facial expressions and gestures. It is important that the professional actor has a clear and broad understanding of vocal skills and techniques e.g. clarity of diction, inflection, accent, intonation and phrasing; pace, pause and timing; projection, pitch; emotional range; song and/or choral speaking.

There are no education requirements, although many theater actors hold bachelor's degrees in their field. Most actors do refine their skills through university classes or conservatory programs. Whilst there are no educational requirements, actors would be expected to have experience within acting. Experience is an important training route the actor would have to consider when training to be a professional actor. Experience could be developed by attending a local community theatre, or by exploring drama clubs and actor gatherings. It is important for an actor to have experience within acting and have knowledge on important techniques that would make them a successful actor.

It would help the actor to appear more professional if they have knowledge, and are able to use successful speaking skills, literacy and reading skills, memorization, physical stamina, persistence, discipline, dedication, and ability to communicate with a wide variety of people etc. To get on to a relevant degree or diploma you may need 5 GCSEs A-C, including math’s, English and at least two A-levels. A level drama or theatre studies is desirable, but not essential. The most relevant vocational course would be a BTEC Diploma in Performing Arts. Most actors would go on to study drama at university in order to increase knowledge and increase experience. However, actors would be required be required to go through an audition or casting bell before taking on a specific job.

Experience is also essential within acting as it may lead to greater and higher paying roles. If the actor does lack experience this may affect their chances when it comes to auditioning for a role as they could be seen as unexperienced and that they may not be too familiar with what it is exactly these job roles may be looking for. Experience will also provide an employer with a portfolio of transferable skills, which is extremely important when it comes to auditioning as first impressions can be very important when it comes to going into the world of acting. Employers are increasingly looking for students who have the ability to combine excellent academic achievement with practical hands-on experience.

Charisma is a surface quality that most actors will require. Performing on stage, or on camera, requires a certain amount of expressive energy, so those individuals with high-octanes of energy and the ability to translate that energy on-screen should go without saying. While not every actor is going to be the most charismatic personality type in their actual life, having a natural charisma to you will always benefit and help you with your performing endeavors.

When developing vocal performance skills, it is important that you have a clear understanding of breath control. Successful breath control would allow the actor to use accurate projection when performing. In order to improve on my own vocal performance skills specifically, I will need to make sure I present good and accurate posture to allow successful vocal skills.

Some movement performance skills include body language, posture, gesture, gait, co-ordination, stillness, timing, control; facial expression; eye contact, listening, expression of mood; spatial awareness; interaction with other performers; dance and choral movement. In order to develop these skills, I would need to ensure I have an understanding of the techniques that make these skills successful. I could improve these by developing a clear understanding of the character I am portraying, in order to present their thoughts and emotions accurately.

In order to improve my character development skills when performing I would need to develop facial expression and techniques including for example eye contact, listening and response, expression of mood. develop skills and techniques in ensemble playing showing awareness of spatial relationships, choral work. Develop understanding of the configuration of the performer/audience relationship.

In order to develop my interpretive skills, I would need to ensure I have a clear understanding of the character, and the sub-text of the piece I would be performing. I could improve on my interpretive skills by looking at the deeper detail and meaning within my performance. This would allow me to create a much more creative piece.

What is Important for a Professional Actor?

It is also extremely important that the actor can show teamworking skills as well as independent skills. Teamwork is important because it helps to deliver better results compared to what could be achieved from each member acting alone. Teamwork also creates a sense of unity and enthusiasm for the common interests and a desire to share in fulfilling responsibilities assigned to the team, which is important in creating relationships with the people/ performers around you. It is of equal importance that the actor does not only create relationships between other but also with other roles such as the director, producer casting director etc. These interrelationships will help the actor to create a positive bond between each other which may further help when it comes to giving constructive criticism and advice. Not having this interrelationship may have a negative effect on the actor. A professional actor could use their team working skills in their job role to ensure they are working together with the rest of their team. It is important that the professional actor works well with the rest of their team, as this may help with trust and confidence when rehearsing/performing.

The professional actor also has roles and responsibilities when it comes to the practical skills of performing. They must make sure they are well rested and hydrated. The professional actor should then ensure that they are aware of the stage directions they have been given, and that they have a clear understanding of what side of stage they would becoming on and going off by. Beforehand, the professional actor must make sure that have had a substantial meal. This meal should preferably consist of protein, fruit and vegetables to ensure that the actors are getting the correct nutrients needed that may benefit their performance. The professional actor would also need to make sure that they are in character, ready for their performance. If the actor is not taking these responsibilities on board, and is not taking care of themselves, this may affect them physically, mentally, and emotionally which could further affect them later during performance or rehearsals.

The professional actor must firstly ensure that they are well rested and have had enough sleep so that they are not energy deprived when it comes to rehearsing. The professional actor should also stay hydrated throughout the rehearsal period. It is important that they do this, as water would help to fuel the muscles within their body therefore, drinking water before, during and after rehearsal would essentially increase energy levels and decrease the levels of muscle fatigue and cramp. In order to ensure the professional actor is ready for a day of rehearsals, they must be prepared for example, ensuring all lines are learnt, if needed, in order to help the rehearsal to run much more smoothly without as much stress.

It is important to have good physicality for acting as it requires energy and vitality, and they are products of a healthy lifestyle. If you’re active and using your body often, you will simply feel more energized. The actors would need to learn to eat well and stay healthy, especially if studying long hours in the daytime and rehearsing in the evenings. A healthy and balanced diet would help increase energy and stamina, which is very important for those long days of study and rehearsal.

An actor should firstly ensure that they have a clear understanding of the sub-text behind the character that they would be playing within the performance. It is important for the professional actor to have a clear and broad understanding of their character so that they are able to portray the correct characteristics that make the character, to allow the audience to create their interpretation. It is also important for the professional actor to have a good overall understanding of other character roles within the performance so that they are well aware of the relationships within the piece.

The professional actor would need to ensure that they are open to all and any ideas/criticism that may be given to them. It is important to do this as it may open their minds to new ideas that they may not have thought of. It is essential that respect is shown when listening and responding to direction as this is important in maintaining relationships and respect within the job role. A professional actor should also take the direction give to them into account, making sure to apply it affectively to their performance, assessing what works and where improvement may still be made.

Good/successful communication skills would need to be used when working with others within a team. It is important that this skill is used as effective communication would allow the other actors/ members of the team to understand their own role and the roles of others clearly. It is important that teamwork is shown as it creates a sense of unity and enthusiasm for the common interest and a desire to share in fulfilling responsibilities that may be assigned to them.

They often put up with demanding working conditions, including intensive rehearsal schedules, long and atypical working hours, frequent travel, unconventional venues, physically challenging moves, Multilanguage environments and audiences, hampering props and costumes, etc.

In conclusion, there are a wide range of roles and key features that are essential in making sure these actors are successful in their job role. In my opinion, the most important responsibility in making a successful actor is experience.