Kirk Smith Media

The Thrills and Spills Of An Acting Career

Stardom! Fame! Fortune! A name in the papers and on television. Its a dream so many can relate to. An  acting career can be an absolutely fun and fabulous. But it can also be one of the scariest and most difficult careers to pursue. It’s expensive and most times difficult to try and obtain a role when you are just starting out at the bottom of the theatre chain. It’s something so many want so very badly and never even get one role. It can be the best of times and then the worst in an instant. Whoever would want this life?

For some it is a must have life style. Even the actor who is broke, living in a crappy apartment, eating Ramen noodles everyday, wouldn’t change their life, because they are acting. This is the bottom step to being a successful actor and having that acting career, being able to live with the fact that you don’t have much but you are working for your dream. For some, this is most definitely enough. Of course, yes, they do want more, but they can live in that type of condition for now, because they are moving toward a goal. These are the type of actors who may have a day job, but still pursue their passion with a big heart for all things theatre. They can see what they want, and now they will work until it becomes an optional lifestyle. They are willing to really work for it because they can not imagine their lives in any other way than to have their dream acting career.

For others, they see that the road is much to hard after trying for so long. These are the type of people who really thought this is what they wanted, but living in a small cramped apartment forever, being reject constantly, these things are not worth it to them after a period of time. In this light, they decide that while they love the theatre, its time to get on with the harsh realities of life, a million want what a few can have. These people may go back to school or pursue another career without schooling. Many will do community theatre, which helps to fill the love that they have for the art while letting them lead a productive and for the most part very happy life. Some have families and decide that this is so much more important to them that they no longer need to be the next big thing to be happy.

However, there are the few out there and the ones who everyone sees and wants to be that drive the actors goal.  These people, the ones looked up to, are the ones whose persistence, passion, and talent were all able to lead them down the road so rarely used, the road of stardom. This is the road that all actors want, but so few get to enjoy. These are the people who enjoy being in many successful roles, usually lead roles. These actors tend to make a pretty decent living at what they do. Some may not even be the big stars of Broadway or Hollywood. Everyone knows that this takes years of dedication and sacrifice. As it may not get to the level of a Summer Stock show or a small motion picture. But even the people in these lower scale acting positions are lucky to have them, because there are actors out there wishing that they could be in that small show, just to have some paying work.

The bottom line is that life with an acting career is difficult, and it’s a life that requires sacrifice. To be an actor is a hard thing, even those in successful shows who seem to have it all, sometimes become very depressed. Sometimes being the big actor, after chasing the dream down, isn’t quite as glamorous as once it was thought to be. Being on the road, touring in a show, or even a show that doesn’t travel, requires long hours of stamina. With a life so hectic, an actor may have very little time with a romantic partner, which begins to tear at the relationship, if they even have time for one at all.  This fun and interesting acting career can soon become sad and difficult with the sad reality, that if a family is wanted, it has to be put on the backburner.

An actor may rarely see the people he or she loves dearly and this is a heartbreaking reality. Sometimes, with the feelings of loneliness, an actor may resort to drug use to make themselves feel better, which can result in a loss of roles, or even if overdosing occurs, death or other health complications.
When determining whether or not to follow this path, it is important to understand the harsh realities. While you may eventually claw your way to the top, it can be a cold and lonely climb that can result in depression. While still, for some it may not, it may be an absolutely fabulous thrill ride that keeps the person in great shape and passionate for theatre. When deciding on this acting career, one should weigh all options as the life of an actor can become a terrifying, yet sometimes very thrilling roller coaster ride.