To want to be an actor

[Mummadeze]

I am 49 with no experience apart from when at school. All my life, I have dreamt of being being an actor. Realistically am wondering if I could do this in my 50s? Maybe start with some training and go from there? Anyone else done this? Or is it just too late?

Never too late! I would hate to regret not giving it a go. Absolutely no experience in this industry though so hopefully someone with some useful advice comes along.

Do you mean as an amateur or would you need to earn a living? If the former then definitely not too late. If the latter then I think it would be really tough, also how do you know you would enjoy it if you haven’t done it since school?

I was a professional actor for 20 years.
If you haven't done it since school I'd recommend you start with AmDram. See if you are any good and if you like it.
It's not an easy life. You need commitment and physical fitness and the skin of a rhino.
Build your skills - singing, movement, dance. Study scripts.
Good luck.

I think it would be difficult at any age really, at least being younger you have more time, and by now older actors will have grown up acting.
You need an agent or to go to open castings
You could join a local amateur dramatic society to see if you actually enjoy it.
You could also sign up to extra agencies if you just fancy being paid for a few days here and there - I know three people who do this and earn some decent 'pocket money' / 'fun money'.
I think you need to build a network or be in that area amongst people - my kid recently filmed something because he knew the person who suggested him.

Try going into paid extra work. My cousin did this in her 40 and was in some really big movies! A scene with brad pitt being particularly notable. It might be fun if nothing else and you may end up in a right place and time kind of thing.

I would also recommend joining an amateur group first. If they are well established the members are usually very talented & the performances as good as professionals.

If you want to formally train, it is very competitive to get a place though there are private drama school that would probably be happy to take your money…

If you need to make a living from it, it’s not the easiest thing to do, I’m sure you realise.

Oh … this is so perfect for the Mature Study and Retraining board!

@Mummadeze I’ve known people awarded scholarships to conservatoires in their 50s - so be assured it is not impossible. To take a course of training, at least. Your chances of going on to a successful career are as uncertain as anyone else’s - determined by talent, luck and connections far more than age.

However, that said - you are not going to get into any drama school without a strong record of acting work. So, your options are:

a) Start finding parts now - join a workshop, a course organised by a theatre, an am-dram group, maybe sign up to info sites for extras (though that won’t really get you significant acting experience) and spend a solid 2/3 years at least building up your portfolio. Then apply to drama schools.

b) Forget drama school but do all the above while aggressively seeking an agent and going to every single possible audition. Get a subscription to The Stage. Make friends with actors, directors. Write your own play, or set up a collective to perform plays. Do that, relentlessly. If it seems too much like hard work - forget it.

(Really hope by the time I’ve posted this, there isn’t a drip feed admitting your husband / wife / goddaughter is the director of a nationally known theatre …)

(Please please ask MNHQ to move your thread though!)

I notice you don’t say what you’ve been doing since you left school. Presumably if you’ve been hanging out with actors, directors, playwrights - you would have thrown yourself into the ring by now.

So, if not - (and assuming this thread isn’t here just to waste posters’ time on a Monday morning) what makes you believe you have the intelligence, energy, talent, and determination to build an acting career?

Thank you everyone. I suppose the dream came about because I got into a prestigious stage school at 11 as a boarder but only went for two years before I left due to extreme homesickness. I have always regretted not sticking it out. I do work in media now but not in a job where I am liaising with actors. I will join an am-dram group for sure. Raising my child has made that tricky so far, but it is on my list of things to do in my 50s, along with having singing lessons as I love to sing too. I don’t know if I am any good, but I just have a burning feeling that I want to try it. Thanks for all the advice!

An extra agency is also a great idea, thanks.

Training can be expensive and my friends who are actors ( even the really good ones) can only get one or two jobs a year. Theatre pay at equity rates isn’t a lot, but a screen job can pay more. I’d just think about the financial implications of comitting 3 years fees ( and not really being able to work around the course due to hours), then the financial security after vs doing what you love. Definitely get yourself out there get some am dram and enjoy your passion. If you can’t see any other life get some cracking monologues under your belt and applying to drama schools and it might all be meant to be. I know lots of people who did train young who left the industry and there are roles out there for women in the 50’s!

The fee point is worth exploring …

If the OP has no degree, then she’d presumably qualify for a Student Loan?

If she has a first degree but not a postgrad - then she’d qualify for a Government Postgraduate Loan - but wouldn’t get in anywhere without an acting ‘portfolio’ that put her at ‘entry to Master’s’ level - which would take a bit of time to build up. (I joined an MA course in middle age in something completely unconnected to my previous degree - but I had built up just enough of a portfolio through random bits of subject-related activity.)

If she’s used up all the Government’s goodwill - I dunno. I know people who’ve crowd funded drama school / conservatoire fees … It wouldn’t be my own choice.

Many years ago I wanted to act and went to drama school auditions. There were 25 of us auditioning, the only one I've seen on the tv screen was a mature student (similar age to you OP), she was very skilled (and beautiful and lovely all round!).
It's a very, very competitive world, and even incredibly talented people never get a 'big' break, most go into teaching or doing something completely different. It's more than just having stage presence, it's very much having a face and voice that fits.
But absolutely go for it.
Certainly give it a go, but be prepared for a long hard slog, and at least 3-5 years of very scant work after training.

You can certainly be an actor at 49. You can be an actor at 79! Just be clear what you want. If you have a creative itch – a yearning to express yourself in some way – then fine. But if you dream of winning awards, starring in Pinter and Stoppard plays on the London stage, etc, then you're going to be disappointed.

The brutal truth is that millions of people want an interesting, creative life. They dream of writing novels or recording albums or starring in films, or whatever. But for every one who succeeds, thousands fail. There is no competition for a job collecting bins, because no one wants to do it; but there is ferocious competition in acting and music and writing, because so many do. And even the minority who succeed often find the reality unfulfilling. Both Martin Sheen and Michael Caine have said that they're ashamed of the vast of majorty of films they've made.

So yeah, for sure you can be an actor at 49. But do it for the love of the thing, not for praise and money.

Thank you, reading all your replies, I think I would be content with a part time course which fits around my job and local am-dram to see if I am fantasising about something that could be real. I was also good at long jump at school so decided to try it as an adult and it was very hard and not as fun as I remembered. I need to stop thinking and start doing. There are plenty of opportunities for satisfying my creative itch that aren’t necessarily out of reach. Thanks for all the advice.