Embracing the fight: Motivation as an actor

As an actor, being in this business isn't easy. It may always feel like an uphill battle. A fight just to be seen, nevermind to be heard. But that's why you have got to keep going, keep moving. Not everyone will succeed in this business, because they give up. They find it too hard, or their heart was never fully in it. But that's the beauty in this being an actor. Each one of us is unique.

Not everyone can do it.

Not everyone will do it.  

And not everyone will continue to do it, day after day, night after night. To do the thing they love and never stop. Your friends and family might not support you. So you have to support yourself. If it's safer for you and your self esteem to keep your dreams to yourself, then do that. Keep things quiet to those who don't support you. Tell them that life is good when they ask, and then go and prove them wrong. Prove to yourself that the struggle is worth it for the final result.

Besides, all good art has come from struggle. 

So why not use it?

Whether that may be to create a short film based on your personal experience, or to bring awareness to something you deeply care about, or suffer with. 

Antigone 2022

It's Never too late to start

And even if you're “late” to start acting in the industry or never did drama at GCSE or college, that's okay. Not everyone starts there. And not everyone has the confidence to choose it and go to an audition at that age. I know i didnt. (I also didn't know about the auditions until after the fact). Then most of my family said “ oh, you like doing art, you should do that” and then signed me up for art at college. It wasn't until I got to uni that I had chosen to do acting. Don't get me wrong, I signed up to do one show at secondary school, and I did my local theater's summer school program. But I find it funny how a lot of the people in those shows, who were really talented, and were the leads, aren't trying to be actors, and performers. Many of them want more normal jobs. And there's quite a group of us, that were chorus and smaller roles, that are actively trying to be in this industry now. And they are succeeding in this industry now.

Be Prepared

Stagecombat 2024

With that said, being prepared by knowing what you're getting yourself in for, is probably the best way to go about it. Knowing that you're constantly going to get rejected. Most of the time, by not hearing anything back. And yet, you've still got to keep going, Keep working, Keep moving forward. Or even better yet, Find those people, who are wanting to be where you want to be aswell, and work with them.

The Right People to be Around

Try to surround yourself with positive people when you can. Friends who make you feel confident and comfortable. Those who you can tell your dreams to, and be yourself without judgement. Because those people not only want to see you succeed, but will happily help you to succeed in whatever you want to do. 

Many of these friends for me personally, I met at university.  And whilst I might not have been in the same year as them, I have thoroughly enjoyed working with them, and watching them grow as actors and as people. Some of which I have gotten to see them perform in their Showcase earlier this year. 

All of us help each other out, whether that's with assignments, or our own projects.

and thats what most of us should do.

Create your own network.

Create your own art, and your own projects

keep going & be seen

Thank you for Reading, And hopefully, you will like some of my other blogs.