A movie actor portrays different characters in films. His role may require him to be humorous, serious or a combination of the two. His ability to play a wide range of parts generally increases his success in the industry. The roles he plays may be large or small, shot in a studio or require him to travel to remote locations.

A career as a movie actor is typically a difficult one. It is traditionally known as a fickle job that offers fame and accolades one day and venomous criticism the next. The tiny percentage of movie actors who make a decent living practicing their craft customarily warn others considering the profession to choose another job.

The path to acting in movies is normally hard and long. It often begins with roles in high school, college and community theater productions. A person who desires to become a movie actor generally migrates to Hollywood, California, where many movies are conceived and produced. It is often considered an obligatory destination for aspiring actors.

A common approach to this career is to study acting, get an agent and land a small role in a successful film. The plan is normally to use that small role as a stepping-stone to larger roles and ultimately be cast as a leading man and “discovered” by a producer or director. Subsequent to being discovered, an aspiring actor typically hopes he will be steadily employed as a legitimate movie actor.

When this plan generally fails to develop as intended, a movie actor is often compelled to use his talents elsewhere. He may work as a movie extra, which means he will probably not have a speaking part and will be paid minimum wage or lower. Exploring opportunities in television is sometimes seen as an alternative, as is working as an actor in commercials or modeling for print ads.

To be a successful movie actor takes more than talent and a well-connected agent. He must be unwavering in his desire to succeed and be persistent in the face of repeated rejection. Working long hours and having his life dictated by schedules imposed by others are typically commonplace for a movie actor.

A movie actor ordinarily has professional training as well as a college degree. He may have a bachelor’s degree in theater arts, music, acting or another artistic concentration as well as specialized training at an acting school. Another common educational resource used by an actor is one-on-one training with an acting coach. Acting experience normally carries more weight than education for a person who desires a career in this field.