8
Steps on How to Become an Actor Later in Life
1. What is the best way to get back into the industry later in life?
Surprisingly, it is very similar to when you were first starting out, except that you already have the basic foundational acting skills and you probably have a lot of old connections. Now is the time for a refresher course. You wouldn’t run a marathon after having hung up your sneakers 20 years ago, would you? Get yourself back to a weekly acting class and warm up those old muscles. While in class, you can network with the students to see if they can refer you to their agent or manager.
If you have good relationships with your old
representatives, reach out to them to make them aware you’re in the game again and see if they want to jump back into business with you. Get all of your materials up to date. You’ll need to update your headshot and résumé and upload your reel and clips online in order to subscribe to submission platforms like Backstage. As you build new credits, switch them in for your reel’s older footage, which may no longer be relevant.
Then, register with film schools in your area so that when they are casting student projects, they will call you in to audition. Join a theater group. Reach out to the casting directors who used to hire you to alert them to your re-entry into the biz. It may feel overwhelming sometimes, but taking it step by step will make it easier.