Career Details
Career Details
Back to top

Career Details

27-2011.00 - Actors


Play parts in stage, television, radio, video, or film productions, or other settings for entertainment, information, or instruction. Interpret serious or comic role by speech, gesture, and body movement to entertain or inform audience. May dance and sing.


Key Facts
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
69,400
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
76,100
Estimate
Change in Employment
+6,600
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+9.6%
Estimate
Tasks
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Study and rehearse roles from scripts to interpret, learn and memorize lines, stunts, and cues as directed.
  • Work closely with directors, other actors, and playwrights to find the interpretation most suited to the role.
  • Learn about characters in scripts and their relationships to each other to develop role interpretations.
  • Collaborate with other actors as part of an ensemble.
  • Perform humorous and serious interpretations of emotions, actions, and situations, using body movements, facial expressions, and gestures.
  • Attend auditions and casting calls to audition for roles.
  • Portray and interpret roles, using speech, gestures, and body movements, to entertain, inform, or instruct radio, film, television, or live audiences.
  • Work with other crew members responsible for lighting, costumes, make-up, and props.
  • Sing or dance during dramatic or comedic performances.
  • Read from scripts or books to narrate action or to inform or entertain audiences, utilizing few or no stage props.
  • Promote productions using means such as interviews about plays or movies.
  • Prepare and perform action stunts for motion picture, television, or stage productions.
  • Tell jokes, perform comic dances, songs and skits, impersonate mannerisms and voices of others, contort face, and use other devices to amuse audiences.
Supplemental
  • Write original or adapted material for dramas, comedies, puppet shows, narration, or other performances.
  • Introduce performances and performers to stimulate excitement and coordinate smooth transition of acts during events.
  • Manipulate strings, wires, rods, or fingers to animate puppets or dummies in synchronization with talking, singing, or recorded programs.
  • Dress in comical clown costumes and makeup, and perform comedy routines to entertain audiences.
  • Perform original and stock tricks of illusion to entertain and mystify audiences, occasionally including audience members as participants.
  • Construct puppets and ventriloquist dummies, and sew accessory clothing, using hand tools and machines.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Fine Arts
  • 93%
    Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
 English Language
  • 86%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Communications and Media
  • 82%
    Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
 Sociology and Anthropology
  • 69%
    Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
 Psychology
  • 65%
    Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 62%
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 Sales and Marketing
  • 58%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
 Education and Training
  • 55%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 History and Archeology
  • 52%
    Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
 Administration and Management
  • 51%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
 Philosophy and Theology
  • 50%
    Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Personal computers
  • Tablet computers
 Cameras
  • Digital still cameras
  • Digital video recorders
 Camera accessories
  • Photography tripods
 Audio and visual equipment
  • Wireless microphones
  • MP3 digital voice recorders
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Apple Final Cut Pro
  • Motion capture software
  • YouTubeHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
  • Word processing software
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • FacebookHOT
  • Instagram
  • LinkedInHOT
  • Website development software
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
 Information exchange software
  • Email software
  • Microsoft OutlookHOT
  • Twitter
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Certifications
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific certifications are listed for this career
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
Brightpoint Community College
Ferrum College
George Mason University
Hollins University
James Madison University
Mary Baldwin University
Northern Virginia Community College
Old Dominion University
Radford University
Randolph College
Roanoke College
Shenandoah University
The University of Virginia's College at Wise
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Peninsula Community College
Virginia Wesleyan University
William & Mary
Jobs
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Jobs related to this career may be found on Indeed.com or on the Google Job Search page.