Work Environment
This occupation is typically found in the following Career Sector(s):
Videos & Interviews
Videos on the Web
- Actor- from: Youtube Search
- How to Become an Actor in Film and Television- from: Acting Career Center [Video]
- How to Get Into Professional Acting- from: Actors Anonymous UK [Video]
Most commonly reported Work Activities
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
- Performing General Physical Activities Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
- Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Handling and Moving Objects Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
- Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
Working Life
An Actor or Actress, in order to be assured of a successful livelihood, must be capable of interpreting and undertaking a wide variety of roles.
Acting is both an art and a craft. Interpretation represents the art of acting, and communication the craft - hence stage-craft. In developing the character being portrayed, the Actor/Actress works in co-operation with the producer/director and fellow Actors/Actresses, so as to realise the full intentions of the author and the producer/director, thus stimulating the desired audience response.
In addition to performing in dramatic presentations, Actors or Actresses may be employed by commercial firms for advertising. They may also find employment in the film world.
Most commonly reported Work Tasks
- Collaborate with other actors as part of an ensemble.
- Portray and interpret roles, using speech, gestures, and body movements, to entertain, inform, or instruct radio, film, television, or live audiences.
- Work closely with directors, other actors, and playwrights to find the interpretation most suited to the role.
- Perform humorous and serious interpretations of emotions, actions, and situations, using body movements, facial expressions, and gestures.
- Study and rehearse roles from scripts to interpret, learn and memorise lines, stunts, and cues as directed.
- Learn about characters in scripts and their relationships to each other to develop role interpretations.
- Attend auditions and casting calls to audition for roles.
- Sing or dance during dramatic or comedic performances.
- Work with other crew members responsible for lighting, costumes, make-up, and props.
- Tell jokes, perform comic dances, songs and skits, impersonate mannerisms and voices of others, contort face, and use other devices to amuse audiences.
Further Information
- Actor- from: N.C.S. [UK]
- Drama therapist- from: N.C.S. [UK]
- How to Become an Actor- from: The Art Career Project
- How to Get an Agent in Ireland- from: Spotlight
Qualities - Actor
You must be versatile, extremely committed and determined.
You should be able to get on with your colleagues, as you may spend a long time working and even living with them.
You must be self-confident and able to take rejection, retaining your motivation in a competitive industry.
You will also need to have a good memory in order to learn your lines. Actors/actresses are often also talented singers and dancers.
Interests - Actor
This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:
Creative
Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.
Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.
Linguistic
The Linguistic's interests are usually focused on ideas and information exchange. They tend to like reading a lot, and enjoy discussion about what has been said. Some will want to write about their own ideas and may follow a path towards journalism, story writing or editing. Others will develop skills in other languages, perhaps finding work as a translator or interpreter. Most Linguistic types will enjoy the opportunity to teach or instruct people in a topic they are interested in.
Enterprising
Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.
Entry / Progression - Actor
Many people who are interested in acting as a career join an academy or school of acting and receive training in the various aspects of dramatic art, performance, voice acting and motion capture performance before seeking pathways in acting.
Most will enter the profession having previously gained some experience in amateur drama from the Irish Film & Television Network
Backstage work in a theatre may also provide knowledge that could help in an acting career.
Sample Education and Training Pathways
A number of courses are available throughout the country that focus on learning and skills that may be useful for this career. The examples and links below may guide you in your research.
Further Education (FET)
Further Education & Training (FET) Courses are delivered by local ETBs, ranging in duration from several weeks up to 20 months. Courses are designed to meet the labour market needs and often include a large element of work experience.
Example search terms include: drama, acting, performing arts.
Search for FET Courses
PLC Courses (FET)
PLC courses are full-time courses, one or two years duration, with awards at Level 5 and 6 on the NFQ. They are offered nationally in Schools and Colleges of Further Education.
Example search terms include: drama, acting, performing arts.
Search for PLC Courses
Higher Education CAO (Undergraduate)
Higher Education courses at Levels 6 to 8 on the NFQ, delivered in Universities and Technological Universities & Institutes. Courses run from 2 – 5 years and places are allocated on a points-based system, processed by the Central Application Office.
Example search terms include: arts, theatre and drama, performing arts and acting.
Private acting colleges and higher education drama courses, all may offer a starting point on the career path.
Search for CAO Courses
Professional Development
Professional development (CPD) courses are specialised training, formal education, or advanced professional learning that improves skills, professional knowledge, competency, and overall effectiveness in the professional world.
Check the Useful Contacts tab on this page to see if there are any professional bodies listed who may provide training related to this career.
Pay & Salary - Actor
Salary Range (thousands per year)* €17k - €81k
Performers at the peak of the profession may command higher income, but for most wages will fall into a lower band.Work can be sessional, project based, and a portfolio of incomes in your acting career.
Irishequity.ie states that "empirical evidence estimates that the average income of professional actors from their work as actors is under €15,000, with half earning €8,000 or less and very few have pension provision."
Basic Income for Artists
Data Source(s):
Indeed.ie/ Eireri.com/ Irish Equity.ie/ DEASP
Last Updated: February, 2024
Labour Market Updates - Actor
Note: The following information relates to occupations that include: Artists; Authors; writers; translators; Actors; entertainers; presenters; Dancers; choreographers; Musicians Arts officers; producers; directors; Photographers; audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators; Graphic designers Product; clothing and related designers.
This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).
Employment grew strongly between 2021 and 2022, with an additional 7,300 persons employed. As illustrated in the CSO Census data below, employment is spread across a number of roles; since 2016, the strongest growth, in absolute terms, was for graphic designers and authors, writers and translators.
New employment permits issued for this occupation in 2022 were primarily for film/TV and animation/visual effects (VFX) roles but also for linguistics experts in the ICT sector. There was also a high volume of recent job hires in line with the recent employment increase. The data does not point to overall issues with recruitment for these roles.
Useful Contacts - Actor
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Abbey Theatre
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Gate Theatre
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Olympia Theatre
- Dame Street, Dublin 2
- (01) 679 3323
- Click Here
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Project Arts Centre
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Irish Actors Equity Group (SIPTU)
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Gaiety School of Acting
