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ANZSCO 2111Skill level 1Creative and media

Actor

Perform in theatre, television, film and commercial roles.

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What a actor actually does

There is no typical day. Most working actors stitch a year together from short contracts: a stage season of 6-10 weeks, a few weeks of screen work, voiceover sessions, commercial castings, plus self-tape auditions filmed at home. On a shoot day you might be on set from 6am, in costume and make-up for an hour, then waiting between takes for blocking, lighting and camera resets. On a theatre day, mornings can be free to recover voice and body, afternoons go to physical warm-ups and notes, with performances running evenings and weekends. Between paid gigs there is near-constant unpaid work: self-taping auditions, taking class to stay match-fit, updating showreels and headshots, and chasing agents. Most actors hold a second income source (hospitality, teaching, voice work) because the gaps between contracts can run months.

Typical tasks

  • Audition for casting calls.
  • Rehearse with directors and ensemble.
  • Perform on stage or to camera.

Skills you'll use

  • Script analysis and character development
  • Voice and body training (stamina, breath, diction)
  • Cold reading and rapid memorisation
  • Self-taping and basic home-studio setup
  • Improvisation and on-set adjustment to direction
  • Resilience under repeated rejection
  • Self-promotion, networking and managing an agent relationship

How to become one

  1. 1Finish Year 12 with English and a Drama or performing-arts subject if your school offers one
  2. 2Audition for an accredited acting course such as NIDA, WAAPA, VCA or QUT; bachelor programmes all run multi-round auditions
  3. 3Complete a 3-year Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting) or equivalent conservatoire training (alternatives include intensive private studios)
  4. 4Build a showreel of student film, short film and theatre work while training
  5. 5Sign with a talent agent in the year you graduate, attend open castings and self-tape regularly
  6. 6Join Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) Equity for standard contracts, insurance and award rates
  7. 7Expect to spend 5-10 years building a profile before the work becomes consistent enough to live on without a second job

Where you can work

  • State theatre companies (Sydney Theatre Company, MTC, Belvoir, QTC, STCSA, Black Swan)
  • Australian screen productions for ABC, SBS, free-to-air and streaming services
  • Independent and fringe theatre venues
  • Voiceover and audiobook studios
  • Casting houses and commercial production sets
  • Drama schools and private acting studios (as a teacher between contracts)

Career progression

Typical stages and salary bands. Salary figures are sourced from Job Outlook, QILT or industry bodies; brackets are 25th-75th percentile not absolute floors or ceilings.

  1. Emerging
    0-3 years
    Typical roles: Ensemble or chorus, Student-film lead, Background or featured extra, Commercial casting
  2. Working actor
    4-10 years
    Typical roles: Supporting role on TV drama, Lead in fringe or independent theatre, Recurring guest role on series, Voiceover artist
  3. Established
    10+ years
    Typical roles: Series regular on television, Lead role with major state theatre company, Recognised film actor, Director or teacher of acting

Is this for you?

You might love this if

  • You can take direction and a hard note without going to pieces
  • You can bounce back from a "no" twenty times in a row
  • You're disciplined about voice, body and ongoing training
  • You're comfortable being scrutinised on appearance, accent and emotion
  • You can plan a year of income from short contracts and side work

This might not suit you if

  • You want a stable salary you can budget on
  • You need approval and feedback to feel okay
  • You hate auditioning and being judged on the spot
  • You want regular office hours and weekends off
  • You can't separate critique of your work from critique of you

Three ways in

Uni, TAFE and trade routes for actor. Not every career has all three; we only list pathways that actually lead to this occupation.

University

Bachelor degrees that lead to this career.

TAFE / VET

Nationally accredited Certificate and Diploma qualifications.

No direct TAFE pathway to this career.

Apprenticeship trade

Earn while you learn through an Australian Apprenticeship.

Not an apprenticeship trade.

Sources

ExamExplained does not publish predictive salary figures. For current Australian earnings data check Job Outlook directly. Career classifications follow the ABS ANZSCO 2022 release.