For a whole lot of people making not a whole lot of money, actors are strangely obsessed with the lovely, horrible stuff. To some, it’s a symbol of status; to others, money signals a degree of security until the next rent cheque is due. And for everybody—especially the non-actors in a performer’s circle—money is an indicator of one’s stability and success in a notoriously harsh industry. This is perhaps where fascination with the term ‘working actor’ originates. It’s not just a job classification, it’s a symbol that one’s art has become that rarest of things in our society: profitable.
‘Working actor’ is a loose status awarded to actors who are paid to perform their art. A working actor may be somebody for whom acting is their sole source of income; it could also be used to describe an actor who performs occasional professional (paid) jobs in bit parts, stage shows or commercials. While it is less common, ‘working actor’ can also be attributed to actors who are engaging in acting jobs—regardless of whether they are actually paid.
Like so many classifications in this business, ‘working actor’ is a contentious term. If you clicked on this article hoping for a curt definition of when an actor gets to bestow this title upon themselves, you’re likely to be disappointed. However, what we do hope to offer on this page is a vitally important discussion around how actors (and their wider communities) see and value themselves.
When is an Actor a Working Actor?
In the immortal words of Laurence Laurentz: “Would that it were so simple…”
“A working actor is a full-time, paid performer.” Acting is their sole source of income. When they don’t have the next acting job lined up they simply wait for the next opportunity—either provided by their agent, or hustled under their own steam. A working actor does nothing but act. Except, well, wait a second… Obviously they’re still an actor in between those paid acting jobs. Otherwise they’d only technically be a paid actor when they were on stage or on set… We’ve messed this up, let’s try again:
“A working actor is a paid performer.” They engage in professional work on stage or screen, but also keep a full- or part-time job to sustain themselves. Except, well, wait a second… Their last paid gig was five years ago?! It’s not their fault: they self-test for something every month! But between then and now there were strikes, a global pandemic and their agent ran away to Antarctica. Have they secretly not been an actor working hard on their career this whole time? Okay, this definition’s another bust. Let’s try:
“A working actor is a performer who only makes money performing Shakespeare on stage.” Acting for screen? It’ll never catch on! A commercial? That’s not acting, that’s sales. A working actor has integrity, and only selects jobs that define and refine them as a-
Take our point? There are too many variables in an actor’s life and career to give a single, binary definition of when an actor is a working actor. Every journey is different, each driven by an individual’s own goals and opinions. As best we can, we offer this: an actor is a working actor when they work towards their craft and career goals.
Why do People Ask if you’re a Working Actor?
Simply put: it’s an easy way for somebody to try and grasp your level of success. ‘Working actor’ implies that you’re steadily employed as a performer and, therefore, doing well. It’s why you hear this question a lot when you talk about your acting career with people outside of the industry: with strangers, acquaintances, family, friends.
While the question can come across at times as a little pointed—even rude—it’s seldom meant in that manner. This is because most non-actors fail to understand how much of the acting profession is unpaid labour. Taking classes, networking, preparing auditions, the endless requirements of self-tapes… most of the time you’re lucky if these things don’t cost you. They’re all necessities that fit firmly within the purview of a professional actor’s job; and yet they defy definition to the average person because they don’t come with a paycheque.
If ever you feel put on the spot by this question, or defensive when providing your answer, ask yourself why. Often, negative feelings around this question relate more to your own insecurities than the other person’s desire to point at you and scream Starving Artist.
And if you really think that the person has asked you this question to shame or invalidate you, ask yourself why their opinion matters in the first place. Honestly: they sound a little jealous your life is full of art and meaning…
“Why do I feel strange calling myself a working actor?”
A lot of actors don’t feel like they’ve earned it. It’s tied to the same insecurity we’ve spoken about above: they don’t think that the term truly ‘fits’ what their experience of being an actor is, whether that’s due to the lack of recent, paid credits or a lack of their name on a star in a Hollywood footpath.
Calling yourself a working actor, or an actor at all for that matter, requires confidence and self-respect. For a lot of people, these qualities don’t come easy. So it’s up to you as an actor to train these as you would any other craft-related skill.
If it still feels strange, do a check-in on your career and your achievements. Do you spend your days hustling and improving your skills? Are you studying your craft, taking classes or reading scenes with your peers? Has your life been taken over by a constant barrage of self-tapes and indie film shoots?
You’re an actor. Not just an working one, but a damn-hard working one. Be proud of that!
Are You Still a Working Actor Between Jobs?
Absolutely. If you’re yet to pick up on what we’re putting down today: paid jobs themselves have little to do with the classification of a ‘working actor’. If you’re making an effort, you’ve more than earned the right to describe yourself this way.
There is perhaps some contention when you leave a longer break between periods of developing your career or craft. An actor who gives up auditioning to attend law school would probably be stretching the truth to call themselves a working actor if they hadn’t seriously pursued acting goals for four years.
But this is not to invalidate the career that has come before this time in their life, nor their inherent skill and knowledge as a performer. Actors often take extended breaks in their careers. Ten, fifteen, twenty years later: they can find their way back.
As always, it’s up to you whether or not you identify as an actor—working or not. Be honest with yourself and you can’t go wrong.
“I’m pretty sure I’m just an actor…”
And that’s okay too! Not every actor is setting out to give up their day job; some are happy pursuing roles for the love in any opportunity they can find. In some cases, actors perform entirely for their own gratification: working on, say, a sonnet once a week for the simple joy of Shakespeare’s poetry.
If you’re not looking to become a working actor, but still feel confident enough in what you do to label yourself an actor regardless: you’re more evolved than 99% of the rest of us. This life is never about the labels, any more than it is the fame or the fortune that sometimes follows.
Do what you wanna, and enjoy yourself along the way. Who cares what you’re called?
Conclusion
So there you have it: a definition or two of the term ‘working actor’, and all the juicy, related discussions the term can bring about. Before we leave you to address your acting identity crisis, here’s one final piece of advice.
‘Working actor’ is often thought of as an evolution out of the simple ‘actor’: it’s a transition one makes in their career at some point that marks new opportunities, prestige and reward… This is totally untrue. Some days you’re a working actor, other days you’re a working barista. Some months you’re a professional stage performer and others you forget what a casting director looks like.
Acting journeys meander: careers peak and valley, ebb and flow. Be open to—and ready for—it all. Regardless of how you introduce yourself at a party.
Good luck!
