QUESTION:
Hi, I’m 19 years old and I’m a freshman in college in Ireland. I’ve always loved acting, however after school I decided to start an academic degree in College (French and Classical Civilisation). I really like my courses, and I do want to stay in college for now, however I do still really want to be an actress. I was just wondering what my chances are of becoming an actress when I leave college (most likely at 22, if I complete my degree). I wouldn’t have gone to Acting College, but I already have some training: I started training when I was 7 years old. I did Speech and Drama, which I just finished this year (11 grades). I was also a member of a local youth theatre, my school drama club for all my time there, and I’ve done 2 short courses with an acting school in Ireland; one for film and one for theatre.
I like theatre, but I think my style is more suited to film. I’ve searched for and done a small number of auditions before, but there’s not a lot to offer in Ireland, so I was thinking of moving when I graduate. America would be difficult for me to move to from Ireland, especially since I don’t have a lot of money. I was considering moving to London and try to make it as an actress there. If I were to stay in college and then try something like this, would I have any chance of becoming an actress, or is a degree in acting school necessary in this situation?
ANSWER:
Making it in acting is hard, whether you have a degree or not, and although a degree helps a lot (not so much for the degree itself, but for the mention of a reputable school on your resume and the contacts, experience and showcases a good acting school provides), it’s not a requirement. You’ve acted before, so that’s good, but it’s hard to make a living as an actor even for those who have both training and experience. So of course it’s possible to become an actress if you start after college, but there’s no guarantees you’ll make a living doing what you love.