To find it sad that privately educated actors dominate telly/film?

I live near Nottingham where we have the Television Workshop, famous for cultivating working class actors like Vicky McClure, Samantha Morton, Bella Ramsay, and lots of Game of Thrones people. Everyone in This is England etc. I think I read somewhere that it’s struggling financially but really hope it can continue.

Well, of course @chulast , it’s hardly surprising and unlikely to to change, unless someone is going to pay for the living expenses of struggling actors from poorer backgrounds.

Money and education gives you options and security - it has always been the case across many aspects of life. This is why in many countries around the world people walk over hot coals to get their children educated. The impact on them and future generations is immense.

A third of the British team at Paris Olympics were privately educated

www.theguardian.com/education/article/2024/jul/24/third-of-team-gb-athletes-for-paris-olympics-educated-privately

20% of those at sixth form level though go to private school and it tends to be the slightly better educate who become actors so this is a lot more proportionate than taking the 7% figure. People have under 30th June to comment on Labour's consultation - https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67effa71cb0feef57df7e5cc/CCS1024634010-003_PN9502147_Call_for_Evidence_Equality_Law_Web_Accessible__1_.pdf
This including a new socio-economic duty, ( See also https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/equality-law-call-for-evidence )

It starts young, drama classes cost money. Only a proportion can afford to do it. How many times on here are parents bemoaning the fact that their child never gets a look in because 'Tabitha' who does drama out of school gets chosen and nobody else gets a look in. Unless you get a chance and can showcase natural talent, its difficult for a poor kid to shine.
Unfortunately getting into performing arts be it acting or other disciplines is difficult, very little money in it. Unless you have money behind you, paying the bills takes priority.

I think that the reasons behind this are nuanced.

Exposure to the arts from a young age is huge. At many private schools theatre and music are required for all, many pupils who might not have been initially interested may find they have talent or enjoy acting.

My husband went to a state school and doesn’t remember having a drama lesson. There was a drama club but they struggled to run a performance as they didn’t have enough students. I’m sure it depends on the state school and there will be some with excellent drama provision.

Also acting is about who you know, so if you’re in the same circles it will be easier to find work.

It's good to have something to blame isn't it.

This reminds me of a mum I knew who was distraught because they needed to pull their youngest daughter from private school… she said that most people that made the olympics went to private school.

I think I was too quick to point out that both her child and mine would need far, Far, FAR more than private education to go that far, neither could or be interesres enough to run after a ball! 🤣

My DSS is at acting school and a number of his peers are from privileged backgrounds (he isn't) - also saw first hand recently the impact of having a parent in the business in terms of the leg up it gives you.

Edit to add my DSD did marine biology and that's similar because the posts are often really poorly paid and most of her course mates were very wealthy and parents can afford to support them so they don't really need to work for money.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-35641061

It’s not just media.

I wonder if things might change a bit with all the reality tv stars nowadays. A lot of them seem to go on to acting or presenting roles. And then online influencers might be the next ones to start moving more and more into tv and acting. Just need lots of followers!

The demonisation of the working class has been going on for years. You only have to read some threads on here about ‘Micky mouse’ degrees and how people should learn a trade instead of pursuing learning. Art should never be the preserve of the rich.

I think the biggest barrier is, as others have said, not being able to live on family money whilst starting out.

They need to be available for auditions at very short notice, and that's hard to do if you have to work to pay the rent.

You also need to live in, or be able to get to, a city where auditions and big acting roles happen.

Put that all together and it's no wonder (almost) only posh people can make it.

The same is true of musicians.

I think some of this applies to writers, too? Less so but having connections to the publishing industry and the most to take year/s off work to do a Creative Writing MA and/or write a book.

Not meaning to be rude, but you haven't got a clue. If you done a bit of research you would be aware that the acting, music, media, creative arts professions are absolutely dominated by the rich/nepotism/upper class etc.

My dd did a lot of drama in her teens. It was only ever a hobby for her, but she has a lot of friends who hope to make a career in that field.

I don't think she was at any disadvantage for going to a state school, and there was actually a lot of mixing between private and state in shows etc, but it wasn't a cheap hobby and you absolutely need to have money behind you if you want to pursue it seriously.

I had this exact conversation with mum yesterday. She was talking about jack Whitehall and his dad. I said they make me sick lol.

Elitism is the downfall of our society. Posh rich people, the royal family, nepotism, elitism, titles, I cannot stand it.

This, particularly "many other professions" this applies to. The routes in require a level of wealth in order to gain the experience on almost no money; it's not just acting. There are many parts of the working world that are unfair.

I completely agree - the huge percentage of very successful privately educated actors and musicians is depressing

Do you have any actual data on what schools people went to or is this just based on a few anecdotes from a minority? I'd really like to see data on at least a few thousands actors before I start caring - and to be honest, I don't really care. I'm more interested in whether they are decent at acting in whatever show it is.

Is this a career you would like to have? Or do you have a son or daughter wishing to go into this career?

A quick click on a Wiki page usually. I think it’s quite normal, if you enjoy tv and film, to have some interest in the actors performing and winning awards for their work. Nothing even nearing obsession.

Re the OP, I imagine it starts quite young. My DD does Stagecoach which is like a youth drama/dance/musical theatre weekly workshop and it also provides opportunities to get small parts in professional shows showing locally. It’s technically accessible to anyone but it’s about £300 a term so naturally many of the kids are from wealthier families, dd says most of her current group go to private school (dd doesn’t).

Im guessing but I expect anything that develops artistic talent from a young age costs £££.

I was watching the Sam Thompson match ball challenge programme the other evening with DD (the amount of swearing was unexpected but that’s for another thread…).

She asked me who he is and when I looked him up, he was on Made in Chelsea (so posh and rich), then various Celeb programmes, then got a radio show with seemingly no experience and it really annoyed me.

It’s like Jamie Laing and now his wife too - they start out with an already good hand and somehow end up in this place where they are given cushy public-facing jobs in entertainment for no real reason. Depressing.

How do you even know which actors are privately educated. Seems a strange obsession.