by Monre
(Mississippi)
QUESTIONS:
I am a 20 year old African American male. I have always dreamed of becoming an actor and have finally began to take steps towards making my dream happen. I recently enrolled in an acting classed, changed my major to theatre and taken part in 3 college films.
At the age of 16 I got my ears pierced eventually I developed small keloids on the back of my ears. I had them surgically removed but they returned luckily they were smaller this time.
MY question is will these hinder my ability to book roles. From what I have seen on film and in pictures is you cannot see the scars if you look at me head on and from the back of my head they arent as large but from the sides they are a little noticeable. None of the filmmakers I filmed with mentioned them and when I asked my acting coach about them she told me I need not worry because she herself did not notice them until I pointed them out. I do believe if I grow my hair a little longer I will be able to hide them, butI fear that a director may want me to cut my hair at a certain point and they may be revealed. I am not self conscious about my scars and sometimes forget I even have them but I am afraid directors won’t feel the same way. Should I be worried?
ANSWER:
It sounds like the scars are really small and most people wouldn’t notice, so don’t worry about it. There are many actors out there, even stars, with less than perfect skin. If you’re self-conscious about it, have your hair longer, as long as it works for the type of roles you’re interested in getting and think you can get cast in. Most of the time, you’ll get hired just the way you are and won’t be asked to cut your hair. I wouldn’t worry about it.