To wonder what actors do when they don't act?

[Nomilkinmycoffeeplease]

I had a chance to catch up on a number of series over Christmas, and discovered quite a few interesting actors I have never heard of (I usually live in scandi thrillers, so BBC productions have not been on my radar much).
Then looking up some of these people I kind of figured out why I never heard of most of them- they seem to be doing one production every year or two years if lucky, sometimes get a short stint in a theatre. And then nothing, or at least nothing I could find on them by googling :)
I presume some people may be doing odd jobs here and there, but then it seems quite disheartening once they hit their 40s and the big break )if they stick around this much)... I have some friends who are musicians and they manage to make a fair bit by giving private classes, in wedding bands etc, but it must be harder in the acting profession?

So yeah, really, just wondering how people make ends meet?

I worked in recruitment for a big social care agency in Manchester in the late nineties. A former character from Corrie registered to join us- she was famous for freezing to death in the freezer of Curly Watts supermarket- and has since gone on to forge an impressive stage career. We also had a former singer with girl band Cleopatra.

Famous actors - have many other commitments. Businesses, charity, public appearances, etc. Though I'm quite surprised why Hollywood A-listers are doing commercials.
Not so famous ones - do other jobs they can.

Role play is a huge industry. It pays extremely well if you can get into it. It is not just role play, but is also corporate training, mostly involving doing forum theatre. It is basically using acting skills to explore behaviours in the workplace. It also includes using role play to coach individuals on their interpersonal skills. Presentation skills traing is another area that is pretty lucrative.

In my time I have temped in offices, done market research, been a dresser in theatres, a supply teacher, cleaner, waitress. I would probably have given up acting if not for role play work though!

A friend of mine does a lot of amateur dramatic /theatre to make it pay. They also do a lot of voice over work/audio books which is really quite lucrative if you have the voice and patience for it.

They've had a fair few roles in TV/ film but are trying to get behind the camera as it's more steady work

My ex and his wife are both actors (stage, film and tv) based in the US.
He is also a (very good) writer for both screen and stage and works part time jobs in between parts - shops mainly but he's also a bouncer. He also does voice overs and adverts.

A friend of mine does a lot of amateur dramatic/ theatre to make it pay But you don't get paid for amateur dramatics?

I remember reading an interview with Rafe Spall (I think) and apparently when he was starting out he worked as a scaffolder in between acting jobs and really enjoyed it.

I used to work in a market research type role that often involved on-street surveys, and we often had actors helping us. I guess they're confident and can be charismatic, and most were quite good looking, which I guess all increases the chances of people engaging with them. One guy had recently played a love interest in quite a big Disney movie and it amazed me that he wasn't (openly) recognised.

Someone I knew who came from a quite well-know clan of actors and musicians told me her father supported the family as a driving instructor between roles.

@CatsArePeople I was not thinking much of the A list celebs, I know they can easily do all sorts of stuff to get by. I was more thinking of the not so famous, who may be doing a show a year etc andoften not in main cast, where you may not necessarily be paid hundreds of thousands or millions of pounds for the role.