I have a friend who would really like to become an acttress?

Question:

I have a friend who would really like to become an acttress?

My friend has been really wanting to audition so she can be a famous actor but needs help finding auditions, any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Well, first of all, there are no auditions for the part of "famous actor". It's not like when one star dies, there's some quota to fill.

Advise your friend that doing the best work possible should always be her primary goal. SHE cannot decide whether or not she becomes famous -- heavens, if it were a choice, wouldn't every actor choose it? And then where would we be? She can not choose to be a star, any more than a writer can choose for his/her book to be a best seller. In the arts, those that become famous do so because they're lucky enough to get cast in a play or film that becomes a hit -- the show's popularity logically means that a lot of people see the artist. Streisand had been very talented, but it was the success of the SHOW "Funny Girl" that afforded her the opportunity to become truly famous. After all, an actor is nothing without something to actually act, n'est ce pas?

Your friend needs to take classes and attend every audition possible. Every audition and every class are learning experiences -- the auditions especially so. She also needs to develop confidence, poise, a very strong work ethic, and the resilience to deal with rejection -- it is said that an actor's main job is to be looking for a job. In other words, unless you're on a longtime television show, acting is nothing but going from one finite project to the next. When your friend's not in a show, she should spend the down time continuing to take classes and hone her craft.

In the term "show business," the operative word is the latter, not the former. It's an industry, and professionalism and diligence are mandatory. Your friend must constantly strive to improve and learn -- and I mean DAILY. I've done over 250 projects, and my hands continue to be my weak point, so I do an hour of movement exercises daily. I may not warm up my voice or read new plays, but every single day -- including holidays -- I stand in front of my mirror and do hand work.

As for finding auditions, she should check out a publication called "Backstage" [in print or online]. On the east coast it's "Backstage," but on the west coast it's "Backstage West" [terribly clever]. They also cover some inland areas like Vegas, Chicago, and Houston. If you're in a smaller town, call around to the theatre companies there and get on their mailing lists for audition announcements.

Finally, tell your friend that fame is not all it's cracked up to be. I've worked with a few famous people, and they mostly consider it a burden. Trust me, it's better to simply be regularly employed -- I'm not famous, but I'm blessed to be able to work as much or as little as I like, because producers and directors know me to be an extremely hard worker who can be counted on. Oh, that's the other thing that's important -- never ever EVER be a diva. ALWAYS be a colleague and a collaborator -- in the arts, your most prized asset is your reputation.