What Sixth Form studies for someone who wants to be an actress?

[Beautifulpictures]

DD is in year 11 and still unsure of what she wants to do next, she said she wants to be an actress and has done a bit of acting; she is also interested in music; but has not done a much of it. She is looking at Btec and A levels too as she is aware acting is a difficult path and would like to have a backup; however when I asked her what else did she see herself doing apart from acting she said nothing else.

I am not sure what to advise really; she could do a diploma in music production and performance at college; but I don’t think music is a backup for acting and is another difficult career.

What A levels and Btec should she choose? She has a good eye for detail, is creative, spontaneous, funny.

I think obviously Drama / performance (existed as both a level and btec when I was at school), English literature - because it’ll help with creativity, character reading and will likely have a unit on plays and or Shakespeare. Then maybe history? There’s transferable elements to acting (research, characters etc) but adds a bit of breadth to her option's.

it sounds like she’s got her heart set on it so good luck to her! But you’re right that it’s better to have options as minds change and things don’t work out always

English lit fir characterisation

history to learn how to research peoples life stories and bring it to life

a language so she can talk in character in ither languages/accents?

all of which would be valuable subjects. Of course drama/music/art to tap into her creative side

Definitely English Lit. It gets a student started on the canon of stories which run through stage and screen, and starts proper thinking into character and motivation.
And drama, obviously.
after that, whatever she’ll succeed in or enjoy

Does the college have a media production course? I studied media and English literature at college (among othe things) and both courses had a lot of people who also did drama.

DD has just started Y12 and wants to do the same. She's doing Drama, English Lit and Politics. She didn't know she wanted to be an actress until she started drama (she didn't do it at GCSE), but loves it.

My head says she should be doing something sensible with good prospects, but my heart says life is short, do something you love. 🤷🏻‍♀️

@Beautifulpictures I'd recommend Core Maths as it will help her understand practical issues like tax returns, compound interest for loans/mortgages, and statistics for making sense of the world around her.

If she were my daughter I would strongly advise she build skills in things that will enable her to make a living doing temping work between acting jobs, e.g. lifeguarding, social care, customer service, administration, computing.

English lit, dance, media studies, or perhaps art. I do think music could be important as she may be expected to sing in performances. It’s also just generally creative and few people make it as an actor but may work in related creative jobs.
but do look at university courses and local acting schools and see if they have requirements. Priority would be acting experience id guess so local am dram groups, as well as any school performances, and I imagine singing and dancing lessons which presumably she’s already doing. Try to get her an agent soon too and start picking up extra work at least for experience

My DD is the same. She's doing drama, eng Lang and psychology. I figure that keeps her options open.

Thanks; what does Media involve?

Looks like a good choice of subjects. Thank you

Thanks. No idea on how to get an agent though and noone in the family is on that field

It is a tough one. One part of me wants to support her; the other one is concerned about the life prospects as an actress.

What acting has she done or is she doing? Has she looked at the National Youth Theatre? Auditions to be a member are coming up.

Media studies analyses different media and includes practical skills as well:
www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/media-studies/a-level/media-studies-7572/specification

I think the subjects she takes for A level should be the ones she is best at and which interest her. I would say drama for sure. Look into stage schools post 18 but be aware they are very competitive.

https://www.nyt.org.uk/

DD is looking to do a stage and screen degree after A levels. She's looking at Falmouth Uni which seem to offer a lot of creative courses so even if performing arts don't end up being her thing, she might gain exposure to other associated areas (writing/production which she is also interested in). It's so hard to decide on a career path at 16/18!

Most practical creative university / conservatoire routes - music, drama etc - admit on audition, so from that point of view, there isn’t a required set of subjects. What will matter more is drama experience- am dram, school, youth theatre at a regional or national level, any good quality youth drama groups locally (see if you can find one with a track record of sending students on to drama schools, rather than the ‘franchise chains’)

In terms of sixth form study, it depends what her backup plan might be. Drama will be useful more in terms of peer group and contacts than ‘content’. Then you can go down the ‘content of plays’ route (English, History etc); the ‘inside people’s heads / motivations ’ route (eg Psychology); the ‘tech / backstage / design’ route (eg Design Tech, Art - or Physics, if theatre lighting / wiring / sound is a plan); triple threat (Music / Dance - unlikely to be allowed to do all 3 in a mainstream school).

Or, ultimately, do what she’s going to get best grades in. My musician did History & Politics, because they were good at them and 3 A levels at top grades is a better backup than carefully-curated subjects at lower grades.

Thanks; will look at this university. Agree, it is very hard to decide your life when you are 15/16.

how many subjects will she be taking at A Level? It's important to go with something she enjoys and wants to learn, but also something that will be helpful in general life (not just a career)

So my A levels were history/English/French (ironically the ones I suggested earlier). That was history (that I genuinely enjoyed and loved learning about), French (so I had an actual skill for day-to-day life) and English Lit (because that was always going to be useful for careers/university)

Maybe ask her to think of it that way? That way, she's not pidgenoning herself at such a young age, but is doing the subjects she genuinely enjoys

As someone else said, learning maths isn't a bad thing because actors are self employed, so learning how to budget/prepare tax return/save commission etc are extremely useful skills

Similarly, something like art/graphic design/ could be beneficial for part time/freelance jobs to tap into while not performing.

STEM subjects so sbe has somethong to fall back on when she discovers that she wont make a living acting.

I think this is good advice.

What are her strengths @Beautifulpictures ? Is she good at science and maths? bc there is no point doing those at A level if not. Obvs if she is and enjoys them then they are good choices. But really anything will be good as long as she will get the best grades and enjoy it. I suggested drama simply bc I presume someone with this goal will excel at drama.

I agree with @cantkeepawayforever that she really needs to be honing her skills on stage. Does she do am dram (even with a local group)? There are lots of opportunities as a rule – we certainly don't live in any kind of metropolitan centre but DD who enjoyed MT at one time was in a local panto, a youth musical theatre group and another local drama group. There will be similar opps near you and I suggest your DD does as much as she can.

Those who succeed have generally been livjng and breathing theatre for years - members of local youth theatre, Amdram, weekend job as an usher etc. Or extra curricular dance classes, music classes etc.
Go to theatre shows.

Drama school auditions are tough and competitive.

Get her to do subjects that will support as well as give options and add lots of extra curricular performance related activities.

That’s the thing; it seems acting and music is what she enjoys at the moment. I think she could enjoy graphic design and photography; but not sure about the job market on those fields.

Speaking as an agent, she doesn't need an agent now so don't give that a moment's thought. She needs to do local theatre groups, NYT, school shows and get experience that way, that'll be what the drama schools are looking for. She also needs to know that most people don't get in to drama school on their first or even second year of auditioning so she needs to think what she might do in the time it takes her before she does get a place. A skill like lifeguarding where she can tick over earning money and get time off for her drama school auditions is a good idea, as is doing a degree first and considering a post grad one year training.

I should think, across my client list, I have pretty much every A level there is: MFL, English, drama, psychology, sciences, maths, art, photography - you name it, someone on the list probably has it and it's not what the drama schools are looking for if she goes that route. They want talent. I've got someone who was a doctor before they became an actor, I've got someone who trained as a musician, a couple of chemists, but whatever she does she needs to enjoy it, as @clary says.

She really does need to understand though that there is less and less work in the performing arts, far less theatre, far less film, far less TV, and it is an oversaturated profession to the point where it is not uncommon for a casting director to get over a thousand suggestions for just one role. She genuinely needs to ask herself if there is anything else at all she might rather do as it is unlikely (obviously not impossible but unlikely) that she will earn a living as an actor.

Which part of the country are you in OP?

English, Drama and whatever other subject she enjoys if she hopes to take a Drama degree. Performing Arts btec is more practical if she hopes to go to vocational school. Most of these are entry by audition.