The Stereotypes About Actors I Commonly Hear - Part 2

by Ashley Griffin, Stage Directions

In the past few months, I’ve found myself in the company of a great many non-actors. Actually, non-entertainment industry…ers but, well, acting seems to be the area where they have the most pre-conceived notions.

In fact, acting seems to be the area where most people whether they’re in the entertainment industry or not seem to have the greatest judgments. An unfortunately common experience I’ve had is that of walking into a room of industry members and getting a completely different response depending on whether I’m introduced first as an actor or a writer/director. If introduced as a writer/director I am immediately assumed to be intelligent, savvy, and generally on an equal par with those in the room. If introduced as an actor I am dumb, naïve, and unknowledgeable about business in any way.

This is certainly not ALWAYS the case. I have many wonderful friends, both industry and not, for whom this couldn’t be further from the truth. But unfortunately, I have come to experience this more and more when I meet new people. And I want to address it.

These are the stereotypes I hear most commonly perpetuated. Here is the link to Part 1. Onto Part 2!

Except for some very talented, successful, well-known actors, most actors are “starving artists” and need to grow up already and get a real job. 

I’ll make this short and sweet. There are a lot of non-famous actors who are very much working actors. Regional theater, tours, and small roles in TV and film – out of these careers can be made. Yes, there are starving artists. Jonathan Larson was one. Katy Perry, Jim Carrey, and many, many others were too. Some wait decades for their big break. Some, like Larsen, never make it in their lifetime. But thank God they stuck it out!

Just because our culture doesn’t support the arts the way it ideally should, doesn’t mean that we should consider a career in the arts a pipe dream. Can you imagine if every struggling artist just gave up? The world would be a miserable place. And we’d have a lot of depressed businessmen. It IS possible to have a career in the arts. It’s not always possible to be Angelina Jolie. 

Seriously, how hard can it be? Practically anyone could do it.

You try it. Seriously. Go take an acting class. Go audition for a local theater. Oh, and be really good.

Statistically, it is more competitive to get into Clown College than to get into Harvard. Many theatrical conservatories have classes of about thirty students. TOTAL. I hold a degree with high honors from New York University. In drama. I still study, and train daily. I’ve also had over twenty years of practical experience on stage and in front of a camera. I’m not unusual. All professional actors have trained to be able to do what they do. I truly think everyone has some artistic capacity. But let’s just say it’s called a craft for a reason.

OMG! I love my cast! They’re totally like my family! I don’t know what I’m going to do if I don’t see them every day! OMG!

Yup. A lot of times it’s true. Deep in your gut, no joke, true. And I know – it’s easy to poke fun at from the outside.

In the best circumstances, casts bond. It’s necessary. And yes, it can happen insanely fast. It has to. That doesn’t always make it shallow or insincere. Performing is dangerous – physically and emotionally. That’s why we have so many safeties and protocols in place. That’s why we have craft and train to do what we do. I will be called upon to perform stage combat, fall in love, mourn, and celebrate with people I met two hours ago in a rehearsal room. Part of what we are trained to do as actors is to keep each other safe. Acting is reacting – and we are constantly aware of what’s going on with our acting partners. Our partners allow us to be emotionally raw – not only without judgment but with support and encouragement. Often that spills over into us sharing things about our personal life off stage.

This certainly doesn’t mean we always fall in love with our onstage love interest – that would be as ridiculous as saying we always want to murder our onstage nemesis. In fact, I know I personally am often closer with my onstage rival in real life than who I am romantically playing opposite. Playing that kind of relationship sometimes takes MORE trust.

Cast members are also all learning together. We struggle and succeed together. We see each other almost every single day during the run of a show – and during rehearsals, we are stuck with each other all day long. For weeks. Even months. Sometimes in a new town, state, country, or even continent. Either we’re going to hate each other or come to deeply care for and rely on each other.

And it is true that many artists come from difficult, or sometimes nonexistent family situations. Cast members really can become family. Yes, of course, it’s often the case that cast members become close on a show, only to never see each other again, or to only reconnect when they happen to be cast together again. But I don’t believe that at the moment cast bonding, whether it lasts or not, is insincere. Sometimes it’s just creating the bond of trust you need to successfully do the show. Sometimes it’s a long-term connection. All I know is that there are some actors I’ve worked with who have become my family in the truest sense of the word. I consider them my brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles. I call them in a crisis. We’ve shared life events. I’ve never had a “showmance” (a romance that only lasts for the life of a show. Sometimes less…) But I have found my adopted family in rehearsal rooms. Even people I bonded with on shows who are not a daily part of my life retain that sense of trust and connection – and I would love to reconnect and jump into another project with them. Actor bonding may sound like fluff, but there’s nothing insincere, or shallow about it.

I wanna be an actor ‘cause I wanna be famous!

Let’s just say there are a lot easier and faster ways to become famous than becoming a serious actor. No one suffers through being a starving artist purely to be famous.

And for anyone whose sole goal IS being famous – I feel sorry for them. I have worked with famous actors. I’ve experienced it by proxy. It’s far from fun. I liken it to this: If you’re a judge, you go to work, put on your robes, and become a “Judge.” Then at the end of the day, you take them off and get to go home and be yourself. When you’re famous – the “robe” never comes off. Remember the idea of actors being their own product? When you’re famous – you’re a walking commodity. And you never get to take off the mask. Yes, it’s wonderful to be respected and lauded for your work. But being famous is another animal entirely. It can potentially come with the job, yes. But it’s not the spoils. It’s a challenge to overcome.

The theatrical community is a hotbed of moral depravity. Actors are sluts, and alcoholics. No child of mine is going into the arts!

This has been a stereotype since the dawn of theater. Yeah, there’s inappropriate behavior. AND highly moral behavior. Just like everywhere. Going into the arts will not make you an immoral person. And don’t use it as an excuse to keep your child out of the arts. Instead, help them develop deep values that won’t be affected no matter where they go, or what they do. Besides, if there IS immorality in the arts – don’t we need more people of integrity to go into the field? And honestly, in this day and age, I’d be a lot more concerned about my kids going into the pharmaceutical industry (Fall of the House of Usher anyone?)

In conclusion….

Yes, there are unintelligent actors, just like there are unintelligent – everything! But I beg you – in the future when dealing with actors, assume intelligence until proven stupid. Not the other way around. Whether you’re in the industry, or even just at a party where your waiter happens to be a struggling actor - treat them with respect. They are probably smarter and hold more credentials than many of the guests. They have taken up a noble crusade – and if it weren’t for them, there would be no theater, film, or television. One of the tragic things I’ve noticed, that so far has gone unmentioned, is that actors are the one artistic demographic that will most likely never be in the position of being able to give someone a job. Writers create projects that will employ entire production teams and large numbers of actors. Directors, producers, and almost everyone else can get you a job. But not an actor. Unless they’re well known, there’s no reason to network with them. So they are often treated as insignificant. But actors are creators too. One only has to spend five minutes in a rehearsal with poorly cast actors to know that they carry every bit as much weight as a writer, or director. We know what we’re doing.

Trust us.