Do you find the life of an actor dreadful?

I mean seriously. You spend your whole life reading script and just "acting" them out, with very little input and contributing very little to life. And at times acting is very much like prostitution in that you have to fake have sex with all these different people. And in the end, you may be scrambling around for a job, even if you were successful in one job, does not guarantee that you'll have a second job.

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• No. You have profound moments of glory that bitter office clerks will never have.

• Only when the fame consumes them and they spiral into despair, a la Monroe or Lohan.

• a lot of jobs are like prostitution - at least acting can be fun

• I agree OP. I have no respect for most actors. Their craft is so elevated when there are so many other professions that require intelligence and interest . These people only require looks.

• Actors really are just circus people with more attitude.

• OP, you DO realize that actors are only playing characters and are otherwise people no different than you or I?

• What R5 and R6 said

• Nope. I acting used to be a hobby of mine. Being an out of work actor sounds dreadful. (But only if you never got much work, if you made enough to retire off of it sounds fine to me.) I like the idea of moving around for projects. And constantly working on different projects. I've done fairly pointless jobs for minimum or near minimum wage before. Acting probably would have amused me more.

• Don't ask me... I don't know because I've never been one!

  Mark%20Wahlberg

• You've described most professions, OP. Get a job & find out.

• I used to act professionally, but tired of always looking for work. I got a decent job and inly act occasionally. The problem is - performing gives you a lot of fulfillment and excitement so you don't need to make or spend much money to be satisfied. As a project manager, I may be able to buy a nice car, but it's just a salve for the shitty, unfulfilling work. As an actor, I always wanted a nice car, but as long as I was working I didn't really care very much.

• I did a bit of local theater, before I decided I didn't like performing. But others LIVED for being on the stage, being watched and applauded. So I get why theater actors love it. But what about film and TV actors, whose work isn't seen for months after it's done, why do they love the work they do? I don't see anything particularly satisfying about the work itself; fame and money aside, can anyone explain the appeal of acting for the camera?

• [quote]contributing very little to life It's true that plenty of people can get by without the performing arts, but at their best film and theatre enhance and enrich life. They do help us 'to enjoy and endure.' There are acres of bullshit around the star system, but the craft of acting at its best is as great to behold as any high talent. People like and need stories, about themselves and other lives, and good actors fulfil this need.

• Let's face it, without them actors, a lot of people struggling to find jobs, and lazy ass worker like R5 can enjoy some stiff competition.

• It's not rocket science, you know and those who are touted as great at their "craft" are no more valuable than a great plumber or accountant. Let's put this in perspective. There's no great skill to acting but we should value them as amusing entertainers and very little else. I'd prefer to be a great designer or electrician than an actor.

• We all "act" in our jobs. If we really said the things we wanted to say it would be deemed "unprofessional" or "rude". Your whole life is an act really, saying the right things at the right time, acting the way you are deemed to act by society. I wish I were an actor, at least I could get paid for all the faking I have to do.

• We are born to do whatever we do now. Don't be so shallow. I can't believe this is a gay forum.

• I certainly do. Even successful actors may only have 10 good years if they are lucky and attractive (Stephen Boyd, Laurence Harvey, Michael York etc) - if they are lucky they can continue in smaller lesser roles as they age. But can/do they earn enough ?

  I%20am%20big%2C%20its%20the%20pictures%20that%20got%20small

• Yeah, OP, going to parties all the time and banging all those groupies is just terrible. I'd much rather be doing whatever it is you do.

  The Chad (Michael Murray)

• I beg to differ R19.

  Betty%20White.

• Since 99% actors are gay....

• I couldnt cope with all that rejection, being turned down for parts because I didnt look right or whatever. An actor is just a helpless pawn who gets a lucky break.

• Rejections are everywhere R23, and some of them are a blessing in disguise. Learn more about life.

• These threads always only focus on the "star" actors and not the majority of working actors. For most of us, it is only rarely that we have to "fake having sex." We are not limited to "ten good years." Sure these are true if you are a sex symbol....but not many of us are. It is a good life and a fulfilling one. The major downside is that you are always looking for work. But any freelance worker knows what that is like.

• You periodically come together with a group of interesting people and explore, discuss and embody the deepest issues in life from many perspectives. That is pretty interesting work.