Acting is a popular career path for those with a passion for the entertainment industry, but it's not the only option available. From voiceover work to producing, writing, and directing, there are many different paths that actors can explore in order to build successful and rewarding careers. In this post, we'll explore 50+ different options for actors who are looking to build their careers and establish their personal brands in the entertainment industry. Whether you're just starting out or looking to diversify your skillset, there's something here for everyone.
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Acting in movies and TV shows: This is the most obvious and popular career path for actors. They can audition for and land roles in feature films, television shows, and web series.
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Voiceover work: Actors can lend their voices to animated films, commercials, audiobooks, and video games.
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Theater performances: Actors can perform in live theater productions such as plays, musicals, and improv shows.
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Hosting: Actors can host a variety of shows, including talk shows, game shows, and award ceremonies.
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Producing: Some actors choose to take on producing roles, either independently or in partnership with other production companies.
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Directing: Actors can also transition into directing roles, either for stage productions or films.
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Writing: Actors can also write their own material, including screenplays, television scripts, and plays.
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Teaching: Some actors choose to teach acting classes, workshops, and private lessons.
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Commercial work: Actors can appear in advertisements for a variety of products and services, including food, beauty products, and automobiles.
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Modeling: Actors can also work as models, appearing in print and digital advertisements for fashion and beauty brands.
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Motion capture performance: Actors can perform motion capture work for video games and movies, bringing digital characters to life.
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Stunt work: Actors with experience in physical performance and training can perform stunts for movies and TV shows.
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Dubbing: Actors can also lend their voices to dub foreign films and TV shows into other languages.
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Podcasting: Actors can host or participate in podcasts, discussing various topics related to the entertainment industry or other interests.
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Music performance: Actors with musical talent can perform in musicals or concerts, or even record and release their own music.
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Audiobook narration: Actors can record audiobooks, bringing characters and stories to life through their voice acting skills.
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Corporate events: Actors can perform at corporate events, such as product launches or company parties.
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Reality TV: Actors can participate in reality TV shows, either as contestants or as hosts.
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Writing for TV and film: Actors can also write for television shows and films, creating stories and characters for others to perform.
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Social media influencing: Actors can leverage their social media presence to promote brands and products, as well as connect with fans and share their personal lives.
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Video content creation: Actors can create their own video content, such as sketches or short films, to showcase their skills and build their online presence.
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Hosting live events: Actors can host live events such as concerts, award shows, or sports games.
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Improv performance: Actors can perform improv comedy, either as a member of a troupe or as a solo performer.
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Puppetry: Actors can specialize in puppetry, bringing puppets to life in TV shows, movies, and live performances.
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Radio drama: Actors can perform in radio dramas, bringing stories to life through sound effects and voice acting.
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Acting coaching: Experienced actors can also offer coaching and mentorship to up-and-coming actors.
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Public speaking: Actors can leverage their experience in public speaking to speak at conferences, conventions, and other events.
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Casting: Some actors transition into casting roles, using their experience and knowledge to help productions find the right actors for their projects.
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Makeup artistry: Actors can also specialize in makeup artistry, creating makeup looks for themselves and other performers.
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Costume design: Actors with a passion for fashion and design can also transition into costume design roles, creating costumes for theater, TV, and film productions.
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Puppet design: Actors can design puppets, bringing their unique creative vision to life in TV shows, movies, and live performances.
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Comedy writing: Actors can also specialize in comedy writing, creating jokes and sketches for TV shows, films, and other productions.
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Dubbing coordination: Actors can coordinate the dubbing process for foreign films and TV shows, ensuring that the translation and voice acting are of high quality.
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Acting for video games: Actors can also perform in video games, bringing characters to life through motion capture and voice acting.
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Promotional events: Actors can participate in promotional events, such as meet-and-greets or press conferences, to promote their projects.
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Celebrity endorsements: Actors can endorse products and services through commercials and other marketing efforts.
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Drama therapy: Actors can use their skills to help people through drama therapy, a form of therapy that uses role-playing to help people deal with emotional and psychological issues.
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Film festival programming: Actors can participate in programming for film festivals, selecting and curating films to be shown to audiences.
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Creative producing: Actors can serve as creative producers, working with writers, directors, and other creative professionals to develop projects and bring them to fruition.
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Virtual reality performances: Actors can perform in virtual reality experiences, bringing immersive performances to audiences.
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Public relations: Actors can use their fame and connections to work in public relations, helping to promote and manage the careers of other actors and celebrities.
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Entertainment journalism: Actors can also become entertainment journalists, covering the latest news and trends in the entertainment industry.
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Acting for commercials: Actors can also act in commercials for a variety of products and services, from fast food to cars.
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Comic book adaptations: Actors can also act in comic book adaptations, bringing beloved characters to life on the big and small screen.
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Stand-up comedy: Actors can perform stand-up comedy, honing their comedic skills and developing their own unique voice.
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Translation: Actors who are multilingual can also work as translators, translating scripts and other materials for film and TV productions.
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Audio production: Actors can work in audio production, recording and editing sound effects, music, and other audio elements for TV shows, movies, and other projects.
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Video editing: Actors can also work in video editing, editing footage for TV shows, movies, and other projects.
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Special effects makeup: Actors can also specialize in special effects makeup, creating realistic makeup looks for monsters, aliens, and other creatures.
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Talent management: Finally, some actors transition into talent management roles, using their experience and knowledge to help other actors and performers navigate the entertainment industry.
Whether it's acting, directing, producing, or any of the other options listed above, there are many paths for actors to explore in the entertainment industry. Each option offers unique challenges and opportunities for growth, and actors can find success in a variety of roles. With hard work, dedication, and a bit of luck, actors can build rewarding careers in this exciting and constantly-evolving industry.
