We have found 19,242 posts across 4 actor forums:
Diversity in Young Adult Pilot Casting 2018 by WinonaPortman • last post Apr 12th
Diversity in casting has been a big topic the past couple of years, so I kept track of it while keeping tally of [Young Adult Actors who booked leads and series regulars](https://www.reddit.com/r/acting/comments/8bpw52/young_adult_pilot_bookings_2018/) this pilot season. In doing so, I noticed an interesting distribution between the different educational and training backgrounds and will offer that information along with the raw numbers although I don't feel expert to hypothesize as to exactly what it means. 188 Actors 81 Male 106 Female 1 Transgender 93 White - 41M 51F 1T 52 Black - 30M 22F 13 Hispanic - 3M 10F 3 Middle Eastern - 2M 1F 11 South Asian - 4M 7F 6 East Asian - 1M 5F 10 Ethnically Ambiguous - 1M 9F **Undergraduate Acting** 38 White - 17M 20F 1T 17 Black - 10M 7F 2 Hispanic - 1M 1F 2 Middle Eastern - 1M 1F 3 South Asian- 1M 2F 3 East Asian - 3F 2 Ethnically Ambiguous - 2F **Graduate Acting** 4 Black - 2M 2F 1 Middle Eastern - 1M **Non-degree conservatories** 2 White - 2F 7 Black - 2M 5F 3 Hispanic - 1M - 2F 1 Ethnically Ambiguous - 1F **Majored in something besides Acting with studio training or training background unknown** 12 White - 7M 5F 11 Black - 5M 6F 4 Hispanic - 1M 3F 6 South Asian- 3M 3F 3 East Asian - 1M 2F 1 Ethnically Ambiguous 1F **Began careers with high school education or foreign equivalent/No college/Studio Trained or training unknown** 10 White - 4M 6F 5 Black - 4M 1F 1 South Asian - 1F 5 Ethnically Ambiguous - 1M 4F **Former Child Stars/Began Careers as Minors** 30 White - 12M 18F 7 Black - 6M 1F 3 Hispanic - 3F 1 Ethically Ambiguous - 1F **Unknown Education, Training Background, or Starting Age** 1 White - 1M 3 Black - 1M - 2F 1 Hispanic - 1F 1 South Asian - 1F
Young Adult Pilot Bookings 2018 by WinonaPortman • last post Apr 12th
Last year, I compiled a list of the [actors in their 20s who booked leads and series regulars during pilot season](https://www.reddit.com/r/acting/comments/676o3e/20something_pilot_bookings_final/) and grouped them into the most common educational and training paths based on what I could find of their backgrounds. I did the same this year except that I raised the age range to roughly 23-33 to give those who started later more time to catch up while also allowing some of the former child stars who never got serious about their craft to fade from the scene like they so often do. The difference in results has been surprising. While the percentage of those who studied Theatre/Acting in college or drama school retained its dominance in comparison to the other training paths, that of the former child stars dropped much more significantly than I would have predicted with most of their slack being taken up by those who studied diverse subjects in college and got their primary training in private acting studios. In the meantime, the percentage of those who trained collegiately at the graduate level not only did not increase as I would have predicted, but showed a significant decline. Some of that can undoubtedly be attributed to year-to-year variation, but the difference is interesting nonetheless. I also kept close track of diversity in casting since that has been such a big topic of late and will offer that information in a [separate post.](https://www.reddit.com/r/acting/comments/8bpx6s/diversity_in_young_adult_pilot_casting_2018/) Moreover, as for nationality, while 26.6% of bookings were by foreign nationals, it seems that for at least this year, the oft-discussed "British Invasion" has been repelled with only 11 Brits having booked although the Canadians made a strong showing with 22. Like I said last year, this is in no way intended to discourage anyone of any starting age, background, or financial means; but, should rather serve as a reference for the inexperienced kids who come on to ask questions about the different training paths. **HERE ARE THE NUMBERS** 188 Actors - 138 American 67 Undergraduate Acting - 56 American 5 Graduate Acting - 4 American 13 Non-degree conservatories - 9 American 35 Majored in something other than Acting - 29 American 21 Began with high school education or foreign equivalent - 12 American 41 Former Child Stars/Began Careers as Minors - 26 American 6 Unknown Education, Training Background, or Starting Age - 2 American **HERE ARE THE ACTORS** **67 Undergraduate Theatre/Drama/Acting - 56 American** Justina Adorno - Series regular - Grand Hotel - South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities and BFA Coastal Carolina University. Improv at UCB. Ben Aldridge - Lead - Skinny Dip - Brit. National Youth Theatre and BA LAMDA. Emily Althaus - Series regular - Salvage - DuPont Manual Youth Performing Arts High School and BFA Western Kentucky University. Annaleigh Ashford - Lead - Three Rivers - Kit Andre Performing Arts Center in Denver and finished a BA in Theatre from Marymount Manhattan College in three years. Raffi Barsoumian - Series regular - The Code - BFA Carnegie Mellon University. Has also studied at the Jacques Lecoq School in Paris, Globe Theatre International in London, and the Moscow Art Theater School. Jon Bass - Series regular - Miracle Workers - BFA Boston University and improv at UCB. Beth Behrs - Lead - Our People - ACT's Young Conservatory and BA UCLA. Kimia Behpoornia - Series regular - Abby's - BA UCLA. Improv at UCB, The Groundlings, Second City, and about every other place in LA. D.J. Blickenstaff - Series regular - #Fashionvictim - Harker School Conservatory and BFA USC. Andrew Keenan-Bolger - Series regular - Three Rivers - BFA Musical Theatre, University of Michigan. Briana Buckmaster - Lead - Wayward Sisters - Canadian. Degree in Theatre Arts from Grant MacEwan University. Sebastian Chacon - Series regular - Crash and Burn - BFA NYU/Tisch and Peoples Improv Theatre. Thomas Cocquerel - Lead - Get Christie Love reboot - Aussie. BA NIDA. Justin Cornwell - Series regular - One Day She'll Darken - BS Theatre Arts, University of Louisville. Post-graduate studies at ATC in Chicago and coaching with Ryan Kitley and Janelle Snow. Laura Dale - Series regular - #Fashionvictim - Brit. BA Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Kimrie Lewis - Series regular - Single Parents - BFA NYU/Tisch. Ryan Eggold - Lead - NBC Medical Drama - BFA USC. Daniel Ezra - Lead - CW April Blair/Spencer Paysinger Drama - Brit. BA East 15 Acting School. Willa Fitzgerald - Lead - #Fashionvictim - Cherubs at Northwestern and BA Theatre Studies, Yale University with theatre internships at The Wooster Group and The Builders Association. Nelson Franklin - Lead - Abby's - BFA NYU/Tisch. Caleb Foote - Series regular - ABC untitled single-camera comedy - BFA University of Michigan. Tati Gabrielle - Series regular - Sabrina - Oakland School for the Arts and BA Drama and French, Spelman College. Has also studied with Yonda Davis in LA. Brandon Micheal Hall - Lead - God Friended Me - South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities and BFA Juilliard. Tre Hall - Series regular - Misfits - BFA USC. Jee Young Han - Series regular - The Mission - Theatre degree from The New School via transfer credits from AMDA. Ian Harding - Series regular - FBI drama - BFA Carnegie Mellon University. Tom Hopper - Lead - The Umbrella Academy - Brit. BA Rose Bruford College. Brianne Howey - Series regular - The Passage - BFA NYU/Tisch. Has also studied with Lesly Kahn. Max Jenkins - Series regular - Most Likely To - BFA NYU/Tisch. Bernard David Jones - Lead - Our People - Paper Mill Conservatory and BA Morehouse College. Jordan L. Jones - Lead - Rel - BFA USC. Nicole Kang - Series regular - You - Summer Intensives at The Performing Arts Project and BFA NYU/Tisch. Has also studied with Lyle Kessler. Elizabeth Lail - Lead - You - BFA University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Ashleigh LaThrop - Lead - Misfits - BFA University of Illinois and continued study at Steppenwolf in Chicago. Allie MacDonald - Series regular - Misfits - Canadian. Studied Musical Theatre at the Canadian College of Performing Arts. Madeleine Mantock- Lead - Charmed reboot - Brit. BA Musical Theatre from Arts Educational Schools, London. Caitlin McGee - Series regular - History of Them - BA Wagner College with a semester abroad at I.E.S. London Theatre Studies program. Has also trained with Wynn Handman for scene study and Maggie Flanigan in a Meisner intensive. Jack Mulhern - Series regular - Locke & Key - BA Skidmore College. Ebonée Noel - Lead - FBI - BFA NYU/Tisch and Williamstown Theatre Festival. Hari Nef - Series regular - You - BA Theatre Arts, Columbia University. Myko Olivier - Lead - Now & Then - BFA NYU/Tisch with study abroad at the International Theater Wing in Amsterdam. Has also studied at UCB and with John Rosenfeld and Christinna Chauncey in LA. Elizabeth Olsen - Lead - Untitled Dramedy series - Family in the business and BFA NYU/Tisch. Could be considered a child star, but there was a 15 year gap between her cameos with her sisters and what she started doing after Tisch. Teyonah Parris - Lead - Murder - South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities and BFA Juilliard. Nathan Parsons - Series regular - Roswell reboot - Aussie. BFA USC. Kosha Patel - Lead - False Profits - BFA USC and continued study at Annie Grindlay Studio, The Groundlings, and UCB. Jack Quaid - Lead - The Boys - Son of Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan. Dropped out of NYU/Tisch after three years. Katherine Ramdeen - Series regular - Wayward Sisters, Canadian. BFA Studio 58/University of Alberta. Too much post-graduate training to list although her primary coach seems to be Kelly Ruth-Mercier. Emmy Raver-Lampman - Series regular - The Umbrella Academy - Virginia Governor's School for the Arts and BFA Musical Theatre, Marymount Manhattan College. Ellie Reed - Series regular - The Greatest American Hero - BA Northwestern University and improv with Second City and IO West. Devere Rogers - Lead - Friends-in-Law - Tri-Cities High School for the Visual and Performing Arts and BFA NYU/Tisch. Gia Sandhu - Series regular - The Greatest American Hero. Canadian. The National Theatre School of Canada and Canadian Film Centre Actors' Conservatory. Mia Serafino - Series regular - Now & Then - BFA Musical Theatre, Roosevelt University. Michael James Shaw - Series regular - Blood & Treasure - Howard University transfer to BFA Juilliard. Lyndon Smith - Lead - Dead Inside - BFA University of Florida. Jason Michael Snow - Lead - Justin Noble Workplace Comedy - BFA Musical Theatre, Boston Conservatory. Has also studied at UCB and The Groundlings. Karan Soni - Series regular - Miracle Workers - BA USC. Phillipa Soo - Series regular - The Code - BFA Juilliard. Sam Straley - Series regular - Tim Doyle Comedy Pilot - BFA DePaul University. Stephanie Styles - Series regular - Three Rivers - BFA Musical Theater, University of Michigan. Ellen Tamaki - Series regular - Charmed reboot - BFA Boston University. Luke Tennie - Series regular - Deadly Class - BFA AMDA. Emily Tremaine - Series regular - Tremors - BA Sarah Lawrence College with a year abroad at Central School of Speech and Drama. Michele Weaver - Lead - Love Is ____ - BA Theatre and Media Production, Pepperdine University. Has also studied with Lesly Kahn, Stan Kirsch, Cameron Watson, Lynette McNeill, and at UCB among others. Chloe Wepper - Series regular - For Love - BFA NYU/Tisch and UCB. Assistant faculty at John Rosenfeld Studios. Anna Wood - Lead - The Code - High School Diploma and BFA from University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Lincoln Younes - Series regular - Grand Hotel - Aussie. BA NIDA. Sasheer Zamata - Lead - So Close - BA Drama, University of Virginia. Also studied at UCB as well as Webster Film Studio and on-camera and cold reading at Actors Connection. **5 Graduate Acting - 4 American** Lauren E. Banks - Series regular - City on a Hill - MFA Yale. Myles Bullock - Series regular - Dead Inside - BA Cal State Fresno, MFA UNC Chapel Hill. Mehdi Dehbi - Lead - Messiah - Belgian. Royal Conservatory of Brussels and National Conservatory of Dramatic Art of Paris. Marcus Henderson - Series regular - Tocoma FD - BFA Alabama State University and MFA Yale. Afton Williamson - Series regular - The Rookie - BFA Eastern Michigan University, MFA Alabama Shakespeare Festival. **13 Non-degree conservatories - 9 American** Ser’Darius Blain - Lead - Charmed reboot - NYCDA and undisclosed private on-camera coaching. Nicole Byer - Series regular - Justin Noble Workplace Comedy - Trained at The Actor’s Playground School of Theater in high school and Certificate from AMDA. UCB legend. Lex Scott Davis - Lead - For Love - Studied Dance Physical Therapy at Drexel University before moving to NYC to train at New York Film Academy. Has also studied with Dustin Felder in LA. Michel Duval - Series regular - Deadly Class - Mexican. Studied at Centro de Educación Artística and AADA. Harriet Dyer - Lead - In Between Lives - Aussie. NIDA one year Musical Theatre course and full-time course at Actors Centre. Callie Hernandez - Lead - Fox Musical Drama pilot - BA Photojournalism, UT Austin. Trained at William Esper Studio, but had to drop out when she could no longer afford tuition. Has since studied at Aquila Morong Studio in LA. Ana Cruz Kayne - Series regular - Now & Then - BA in Neuroscience and Italian Literature; Barnard College, Columbia University. Trained at Maggie Flanagan Studio. Has also studied at UCB and coaches with Allen Savage and Caymichael Patton. Titus Makin - Series regular - The Rookie - NYCDA and on-going scene study with W. Morgan Sheppard. Janet Montgomery - Lead - Untitled Bellview Medical pilot - Brit who earned a Diploma from Stella Mann College of Performing Arts which is primarily a dance school, but also offers acting classes. Works with a "brilliant," but undisclosed private acting coach. Hayley Marie Norman - Lead - Dead Inside - Summer program at CalArts in high school and AADA. Also a UCB graduate and studies with Stan Kirsch. Christina Ochoa - Series regular - A Million Little Things - Spanish. Degree in Oceanographic Engineering from Las Palmas University in the Canary Islands and began a Masters course in Marine Biology at James Cook University in Australia. Actor training at Cristina Rota Conservatory and Film Institute in Madrid. Has also studied with Shari Shaw in LA. Leigh-Ann Rose - Lead - Untitled ABC Drama - Trained at William Esper Studio. Has also studied at UCB and HB Studio and has a degree from Syracuse University with an undisclosed major. Shoniqua Shandai - Series regular - The Greatest American Hero. Certificate from AMDA. Also trained at Playhouse West and with Dustin Felder among others too numerous to list. **35 Majored in something other than Acting - 29 American** Andy Allo - Lead - Upload - Prince's former protege who dropped out of the Communications major at American River College to pursue a music career. Has studied acting with Lesly Kahn. Deborah Ayorinde - Series regular - Main Justice - BA Film Production, Howard University where she took acting for non-majors. Has also studied with Penny Templeton, Vince Pisani, and Vera Katz. Shakira Barrera - Series Regular - Three Rivers - BFA Dance, Rutgers University. Has studied acting with Lesly Kahn, Don Bloomfield, UCB, Tess Kirsch, and Judy Kain. Shea Buckner - Series regular - Get Christie Love - Former Olympic water polo player who studied Public Policy at USC. Has studied acting with Lesly Kahn. Quinta Brunson - Lead - The End of the World as We Know It - Buzzfeed star. Dropped out of Temple University after her Communications major was dropped and trained at Second City in Chicago and LA. Sofia Carson - Series regular - Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionist - Attended Maria Verdeja School of the Arts in Miami and majored in Broadcast Journalism with an International Relations minor at UCLA. David Castañeda - Series regular - The Umbrella Academy - Double degree in Film Production and International Business and acting classes for non-majors at Cal State Fullerton. Mike Castle - Series regular - Pandas in New York - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with an undisclosed major before which he studied acting at Piven Theatre Workshop and afterwards at Second City and IO West. Will Catlett - Lead - Love Is ____ - BA Communications with an emphasis in Radio and TV from University of La Verne. Has studied acting with Ritchie and Bobbie Chance, Stephen Snyder, and Gary Imhoff. Zach Cherry - Series regular - You - Studied Law, Jurisprudence, and Social Thought at Amherst College. Attended a high school with a great performing arts program including improv, did improv throughout college, and is on the GOAT team at UCB in NYC. Jake Choi - Series regular - Single Parents - Attended Yonsei University in South Korea on a basketball scholarship with an undisclosed major. Has studied acting at Strasberg in NYC, UCB, T. Schreiber Studio, and with Josh Pais, Bob Krakower, and Stan Kirsch. Lily Cowles - Series regular - Roswell reboot - Daughter of Matthew Cowles and Christine Baranski. BA Religion, Princeton University; MS Visual Anthropology, Oxford University. Kether Donohue - Lead - Like Family. BA Communication and Media Studies with a concentration in Film, Fordham University. Has studied acting at Anthony Meindl Acting Center in New York. Jerod Haynes - Series regular - The Village. Former collegiate basketball player at the University of Idaho and Angelo State University with an unknown major. Has studied at Acting Studio Chicago and at BADA. Sean Kleier - Lead - So Close - BA History with Film minor, Boudoin College. Trained at UCB. Christine Ko - Series regular - Dead Inside - BA Communication and Media Studies, Georgia State University. Has studied acting with Stan Kirsch, Sara Mornell, Anthony Meindl, and Della Cole. Alice Lee - Series regular - Take Two - BM Music Business, NYU/Steinhardt. Javicia Leslie - Series regular - God Friended Me - BS Business Management, Hampton University. Has studied acting with Jonathan Slavin, Michael Adams, Paolo Pagliacolo, Salome Jens, Bill Duke, and Cheryl Rhoads. Mouzam Makkar - Series regular - The Fix - Indian. BS Finance, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Has studied at Steppenwolf and Second City in Chicago. Jeanine Mason - Lead - Roswell reboot - "So You Think You Can Dance" winner. UCLA degree in World Arts and Cultures: Dance and Film minor. Actor training with Michael Woolson. Jessica “Jess Hilarious” Moore - Lead - Rel - Social media star and standup comic. Studied Mortuary Science at an undisclosed college. Nathan Mitchell - Lead - The Boys - Canadian. Studied Radio and Television at Ryerson University after studying acting at Cawthra Park Secondary School. Also studied with Strasberg and Meisner teachers in Toronto and Vancouver post-graduate. Mark O’Brien - Series regular - City on a Hill - Canadian. BA English, Memorial University of Newfoundland. Clare O'Connor - Series regular - Fox Legal Drama - Former dancer. Degree in Fiction Writing and Painting/Drawing from School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Trained at Second City Conservatory. Punam Patel - Series regular - So Close - Journalism Major/Theatre Minor at U. Florida and trained at Second City in Chicago. Tyler Ritter - Lead - Playing Dead - John Ritter's son and Jason Ritter's brother. Graduated from University of Pennsylvania with an undisclosed major and taught school in Argentina for three years. Studies acting with Lesly Kahn. Suraj Sharma - Series regular - God Friended Me - Indian. Current Film student at NYU/Tisch. Has also studied Philosophy at St. Stephen's College and University of Delhi. Lilly Singh - Lead - Bright Futures - Canadian. YouTube megastar. BA Psychology, NYU. KJ Smith - Series regular - Skinny Dip - BS Marketing, Florida State University. Also attended Florida A&M. Has studied acting at or with Lesly Kahn, Christinna Chauncey, Amy Lyndon, Margie Haber Studio, The Acting Center, The Acting Corps, and Amy Seeley. Freddie Stroma - Lead - CW supernatural cop drama - Brit. BSc Neuroscience, University College, London. Former member of the National Youth Theatre. BBC TV guest appearances while at university and took a year off to shoot Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Kapil Talwalkar - Series regular - False Profits - BA International Relations with a minor in Dramatic Arts from USC. Jimmy Tatro - Lead - Bright Futures - YouTube star and standup comic who dropped out of University of Arizona after junior year with an undisclosed major. Ana Villafañe - Lead - History of Them - Started acting in Atlanta musical theatre as an after school activity at 9. Majored in Music at Loyola Marymount University and was coached in acting by the Theatre faculty when she was in musicals there. Michael Vlamis - Series regular - Roswell reboot - BS Business from Chapman University. Has studied acting at or with Sandy Marshall, UCB, Lesly Kahn & Co., Chapman University for non-majors, and Katie Amanda Keane. Zeeko Zaki - Lead - FBI - Studied Business at Temple University where he took an Acting for Film class and transferred to Cape Fear Community College where he took two levels of Acting for Camera. **21 Began careers with high school education or foreign equivalent - 12 American** Clark Backo - Series regular - Wayward Sisters. Canadian. Has studied with Jock MacDonald at Straeon Studios. Tyler Blackburn - Series regular - Roswell reboot - LA native. Has studied and coached with Brad Heller. Kylie Bunbury - Lead - Get Christy Love - Canadian. Former model. Has studied at Playhouse West and with Michael Laskin in LA. Shiloh Fernandez - Series regular - Tremors - Former model. Has coached with John Markland. Alex Fitzalan - Lead - Crash and Burn - Aussie. Attended an arts high school, but didn't get serious about his career for a few years. Josh Helman - Lead - The End of the World as We Know It - Aussie. Has coached with Josh Bitton. Heather Hemmens - Series regular - Roswell reboot - Trained in high school at Walnut Hill School for the Arts. Has also studied with Stan Kirsch. Camrus Johnson - Series regular - #Fashionvictim - Began career in NYC. Has studied with Anthony Abeson, Gregory Berger Sobeck, Actors Connection on-camera, La Tea Theatre, Actors Project NYC, and Peoples Improv Theatre. Parveen Kaur - Series regular - Manifest - Canadian. Julia Kelly - Series regular - Get Christy Love - Social media influencer. Has studied acting at Scott Sedita Studios, the Professional Performance Program at the UCLA extension, TVI Studios, Spolin Players, and Gray Studios. Georgia King - Series regular - Making Friends - Brit. Daughter of Aussie actor and Royal Shakespeare Company member Jonathan Hyde. First booking at 18. Jake McDorman - Series regular - Murphy Brown reboot - Trained at Dallas Young Actors Studio. Allison Miller - Lead - A Million Little Things - Briefly attended U. Florida with an undisclosed major. Shay Mitchell - Series regular - You - Canadian. Studied acting since high school and has coached with Lauren Patrice Nadler in LA. Erin Moriarty - Lead - The Boys - NYC native. Has studied with Shauna Hicks and Sheila Gray in NYC and with Michael Woolson in LA. Melissa O'Neil - Lead - The Rookie - Canadian. Former Canadian Idol winner having been a local musical theatre actress in Calgary. Leonard Ouzts - Lead - Abby's - Standup comic. Briefly attended Virginia State University and dropped out to go to NYC to pursue a comedy career. Emily Ratajkowski - Lead - Bright Futures - Model who had been acting and receiving undisclosed coaching since childhood. Briefly attended UCLA. Dreama Walker - Lead - Welcome to the Neighborhood. Amber Stevens West - Lead - Untitled CBS Comedy - LA native. Family in the business. Luke Youngblood - Series regular - Playing Dead - Brit. Attended Sylvia Young Theatre School in London. **41 Former Child Stars/Began Careers as Minors - 26 American** Robbie Amell - Lead - Upload - Canadian who started acting at 6. First film at 17. Trained at Canadian Studios Acting Academy. Penn Badgley - Lead - You - Began career at 11. Got high school equivalency at 13 through night classes while taking acting classes during the day. Kirby Bliss-Blanton - Series regular - Tacoma FD - Began career at 14. Studied at Cynthia Bain's Young Actor Studio. James Buckley - Series regular - NBC Single Camera Comedy - Brit. Began career at 14. Cody Christian - Series regular - CW Drama - Began career at 12. Has studied with Richard Brander. Miranda Cosgrove - Series regular - History of Them - Began career at 3. Has studied with Marnie Cooper, Andrew Magarian, and at Young Actors Space. Also earned a degree in Psychology from USC after having started in Film Studies. Kat Dennings - Lead - Justin Noble Workplace Comedy - Began career in commercials at 10 and was a series regular by 15. Melonie Diaz - Lead - Charmed reboot - Began career at 16. Attended the Professional Performing Arts School in Manhattan and earned a BFA in Film Production from NYU/Tisch. Brett Dier - Lead - History of Them - Canadian who began career at 16. Parents were stage actors. Nina Dobrev - Lead - Fam - Bulgarian/Canadian. Began career at 17. Trained at Armstrong Acting Studios and Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts. Also briefly attended Ryerson University for Sociology. India Eisley - Series regular - One Day She'll Darken - Began career at 12. Studied at The Playground with kids' coach Gary Spatz. Noel Fisher - Series regular - Red Line - Canadian. Began career at 14. Has studied with Lisa Robertson in LA. Maria Gabriela de Faria - Series regular - Venezualan who began career at 10. Kelli Garner - Lead - The Enemy Within - Began career at 16. Gage Golightly - Lead - The End of the World as We Know It - Began career at 9. Has studied at Cynthia Bain's Young Actor Studio. Aldis Hodge - Series regular - City on a Hill - Began career at 3. First film at 9. Kris D. Lofton - Series regular - Safe Harbor - Began career at 12. Shows no training on his resume, but has taught kids' classes in Chicago and Atlanta. Clara Lago - Lead - Playing Dead - Spanish. Began career at 9. Peyton List - Lead - Fox Untitled Drama - Began career at 14. Tom Maden - Lead - 25 - Began career in reality tv at 16. Perry Mattfeld - Lead - In the Dark - Began acting career at 14. Also earned a BFA from USC with a minor in Cinematic Arts. Leighton Meester - Lead - Single Parents - Began career at 13. Emily Osment - Lead - Spaced Out - Began career at 6. Also studied Theatre at Occidental College. Ellen Page - Lead - The Umbrella Academy - Canadian who began career at 10. Janel Parrish - Lead - The Perfectionists - Started acting at 6 and began career at 14. Studied at The Playground with kids' coach Gary Spatz. Ethan Peck - Lead - For Love - Began career at 9. Family in the business and grandson of Gregory Peck. Dropped out of NYU/Tisch after third year. Zoe Robins - Series regular - The Finest - New Zealander. Began career at 12. Has studied at The Actors' Program in Auckland as well as having done a summer intensive at Toi Whakaari. Melissa Roxburgh - Lead - Manifest - Canadian who started her career at 17. Has studied with Suzanne Bastien in Toronto. Matt Shively - Lead - Spaced Out - Began career at 17. Rachel Skarsten - Series regular - For Love - Canadian. Former dancer. Began career at 14. Also earned a BA in English from Queen's University. Brandon Mychal Smith - Lead - Like Family - Began career at 8. Also earned a degree in Entrepreneurship with a minor in Finance from Hampton University. Robert Sheehan - Series regular - The Umbrella Academy - Irish. Began career at 14. Ksenia Solo - Series regular - Blue Book - Latvian-Canadian who began career at 10. Has studied with Lynette Sheldon in NYC. Ashley Tisdale - Lead - Pandas in New York - Began career at 3. Has studied with Andrew Magarian and Cameron Thor. Denyse Tontz - Lead - Grand Hotel - Former child model who began acting career at 13. Has studied at Cynthia Bain's Young Actor Studio. Jessie T. Usher - Lead - The Boys - First commercial at 11 and first guest star at 13. Graduated high school at 15 as class salutatorian. Studied Culinary Arts at an undisclosed college. Trained in undisclosed classes and workshops. Chris Warren - Series regular - Grand Hotel - Began career at 10. Perdita Weeks - Lead - Magnum PI reboot - Brit. Family in the business. Began career at 8, but also studied Art History at the Courtauld Institute. Calum Worthy - Lead - Bright Futures - Canadian. Began career at 9. Studied at The Playground with kids' coach Gary Spatz and has coached with Kirsten Clarkson. Tyler James Williams - Lead - Whiskey Cavalier - Began career at 4. Mark L. Young - Series regular - False Profits - Began career at 12. **6 Unknown Education, Training Background, or Starting Age - 2 American** Hina Abdullah - Series regular - Pandas in New York - Pakistani. ??? Dennis Andres - Series regular - Greatest American Hero - Canadian. ??? Sierra Capri - Series regular - On My Block - ??? James Earl - Series regular - Now & Then - ??? Cindy Luna - Series regular - In Between Lives - Mexican model. ??? Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing - Series regular - Love Is ____ - ??? Dutch.
Philip Seymour Hoffman: "The Finest Actor of His Generation" by oriordansinead • last post Apr 11th
Actors in NYC by commandolandorooster • last post Apr 11th
I have been thinking about moving to NYC to pursue acting since there are way more opportunities out there (for stage) than my current city. How do you guys make ends meet in an expensive city? What side jobs do you have? Where do you live? I have always been weary about it because i’ve always felt it was such a struggle.
Chasing Your Acting Dreams is Possible. My story... by DTJ1313 • last post Apr 11th
Hey Ladies & Gents, I'm 28yr old and moved to LA January 2017. I started by doing background all of 2017 while taking acting classes. I just got my headshots taking last weekend. I'm waiting for the retouches to be finalized so I can post them here. I will begin submitting for projects and auditioning next week. I'm so happy with my life right now that words cant explain the fulfillment. I made my commitment to acting after leaving my corporate job I held for 5+ years making 80k a year plus benefits. Why did I leave? I hated my life. I literally hated waking up everyday thinking of going to my place of employment. I had a nervous breakdown while driving a company car after a conference call because of all the stress. I almost crashed. At that point I knew I had to get out and follow my dreams. I moved to LA and found a job as a supervisor at a retail store making $15hr. I only have to work Fridays & Saturdays overnight. If I want to work more hours I can basically just show up to work. If I ever book something and need Friday or Saturday nights off my boss will switch the schedule. If its last minute I will find someone to cover me. Be nice to your co-workers and cover them when ever you can. You will need them in the future. I have the perfect survival job. I live in a 1 bedroom in LA with a roommate and we pay $1000 total a month. My roommate pays $600 and takes the room and I pay $400 and take the living room as my room. The apartment is about 500sq so its small but manageable for the two of us. My roommate is in his 30's and decided to go back to college. So I can look forward to paying $400 rent for the next 3 1/2 years living in LA. I also have zero DEBT now. This part was really crucial to my survival here in LA. I have no student loans because I never went to college. I sold my 2016 Dodge Challenger and moved down into a 2005 Ford Taurus. I payed off 8k worth of credit card debt. I then saved up 15k and quit my job and moved to LA. I'm not one those wannabe actors I see everyday in LA. I breathe, eat, and sleep acting everyday. That's the only way to make it here in this town. There are so many wannabe actors here in LA it's amazing. They're just wasting precious time in their lives. I recognize that I'm not saving for retirement . That having a wife and kids is next to impossible right now. Traveling and vacations are now a thing of the past for me. I don't dream of being a star right now (would be nice). I just want to be a working actor and put food on table through acting. If I can make 50k a year through acting for the rest of my life I would die I happy man. My journey into the audition rooms and onto set begins next week. Be sure to eat healthy and workout as much as you can. Also, make sure you take good care of your teeth. Don't do any activities that involve a high chance of bodily injury. Don't go get a motorcycle to split lanes here because your running late or hate traffic. Deal with it and leave early for your auditions. Take this advice and theres a good chance you will avoid a costly medical expense. I have laid out my monthly bills below. Feel free to ask me any questions. Rent: $400 Car Insurance: $70 Phone Bill: $60 Renters Insurance: $25 Internet: $35 Gym: $25 Gas/Electricity: $50 Netflix: $10 Healthcare: Free via MediCal. **Grand Total: $675 life in Los Angeles.**
Anyone else really wish they could be a fly on the wall in audition rooms of other actors? by ExcellentAppointment • last post Apr 11th
For big actors who talk about getting their first big role, I wish I knew what they did to achieve that. I feel like I’m always being 100% myself in the audition room but it isn’t enough! I wonder what kind of things stood out to the CD and so on. It’s so difficult sometimes. Can’t give up though!
Coping with disappointment by Loveyouguysbut • last post Apr 10th
I know that in order to be a successful actor you HAVE to be able to cope with your fair share of rejection - it comes with the territory. Thing is, it still sucks - big time. Particularly when you get great feedback from the room (e.g. a recall or an unsolicited compliment from the director). I would like to know how my fellow actors cope with a) not getting your hopes up to begin with and b) not questioning your career choice when it doesn’t work out the way you wanted it to.
Look for parts outside your country by MrOaiki • last post Apr 10th
I’m not an actor, I’m a writer and producer. One of my films was Sweden’s official submission to the American academy awards. I like the enthusiasm and good tone in this sub, you’re all motivating each other. Keep that up! I’d like to give you a piece of advice. Look outside your country. Many of you are from the US, and you’re just another American. But if you look at say Sweden, our film and tv business is booming. We’ve exported all the Skarsgårs, Alicia Vikander, and many more. Half of the actors I know have a part in Vikings. The Swedish entertainment business in need of good actors, and you should look around for parts here. Sure, you don’t speak Swedish. But there have been a lot of parts in other languages than Swedish, e.g English.
NEW COLUMN - Drop Season by SecretAgentMan • last post Apr 9th
https://www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/secret-agent-man/how-stay-your-agents-good-side/
Non union and equity PRINCIPAL auditions by muddymudd • last post Apr 9th
What's the etiquette here? As a non union actor can I go to an equity principal audition and possibly be seen? Or are they specifically for emc and equity actors? Confusion on the dos and donts of epas, and I'm perfect for the production.
Anyones face ever twitch while on stage? by supercave93 • last post Apr 8th
I am an actress, I have been acting around 8 years now, and only recently have I noticed when I get into character, my lips, and sometimes my eyebrows start twitching. Does anyone else ever get this? is there any way to stop it happening?
Looking for either people's experience, or biographies to read... by Balthactor • last post Apr 8th
The other day I was talking to an artist (mixed media, mostly watercolor painting) about what I desire in a career in acting and I told her that I want to be able to walk onto a set or a stage and be able to see in the other actor's faces their sense of trust that we're going to do good work. And she told me from her experience growing as an artist that what I need to do is take that end goal and work backwards from it. See what steps I need to take from where I am now to getting there, instead of fretting over not being skilled or good enough yet (at the beginning) to already be a trusted working actor. Saying, of course, that she didn't know what those steps would be since she works in a completely different art form. So, like many people, I was raised in an abusive setting (by a diagnosed NPD father) and taught not to trust myself, but to rely on the judgement of others. My value being dependant on how useful or well liked I am. What I'm asking is if anyone has either a similar experience of moving beyond this into an artistic career as an actor and what steps you took (like I'm planning on taking improv classes to be more in the moment and less inhibited), or if you know of a good biography or similar of successful actors and how they moved forward from difficult circumstances into their careers? What steps did they take? What technique of acting did they use? What were their daily practices in life? Not so I can be a carbon copy of them, but just suggestions as I try to fumble forward.
Working with a difficult actor by FoxyGrandpa17 • last post Apr 8th
So I'm pretty new to film acting and my fellow actor (who was slightly more experienced) was actually nice enough, however there were some things that started to really bother me about him throughout the process. The first thing is, he was a backseat director. This is less my problem than it is the director's, but it still seemed to slow down the process as he had something to say and suggest after every take to them. Now I like to suggest things myself and there's merit to it, but as the actor, I try to restrict myself from "directing" unless asked to specifically or of what I'm thinking is very important to me. The other thing is that he seemed to be a spotlight hog, for lack of a better word. He always needed to be the one speaking at the end of the scene despite the script. Always was trying to find a way to "improve" the script or get more close ups. I know it's important to get the best footage if you but it was borderline obnoxious. He also seemed to be acting for fame. Specifically I remember him saying how he wanted to get to the point in his career where the crew would grovel to him. Again, I liked the guy enough, but seeing him step on my toes or the director's all the time was frustrating, but I didn't want to risk this conflict blocking my performance, so I just hoped the director would say something. How would y'all deal with this, if at all, or am I just making a mountain of a mole hill? TL;DR: Fellow actor was a back seat director and spotlight hog. Was only acting to get famous. These things kept bothering me and stepping on my toes. WWYD?
Andy Serkis? by GeeOKeem • last post Apr 8th
In a world where motion capture isnt appreciated as an acting art in the elitist acting world (oscars) where do we rank Andy Serkis on his acting caliber alone, comparitively to others. I myself am biased in saying he is my favorite actor (very close with Tom Hardy) but i do believe this conversation is seldom had.
How much do you weigh/what is your size? by FluffyWof • last post Apr 7th
We’re all anonymous here so hopefully no one minds! I just wonder because I consider myself a normal size bordering on slim, but everyone says the camera adds ten pounds and so many actors and actresses I’ve met in real life are bloody tiny! And I read about actresses being like, 110 pounds and they’re taller than me! My stats are 166cm, 55 kilos. That’s 5’5.5, and 121 pounds.
An inspiration to all young actors out there. The Rock's journey to a House hold Hollywood name by ZeeCon4 • last post Apr 7th
Whats some of the upsides and downsides of acting? by Natsu_Firefox • last post Apr 7th
Recently Ive taken a major interest and feel very passionate about action. But when I read books and look online it seems like nobody has good things to say. The norm is that actors get paid shit and a whole lotta other bad things. I just wanna know whatre the upsides.