If you want to become the next star in Hollywood, with your name in lights, or your handprints on the floor of the streets of LA, then you will need to know how to jumpstart your acting career.
You are probably wondering how to do it, and what age you need to start preparing to become an actor, or when you can enroll in acting school.
Luckily for you, we are here to answer all of your burning questions about what age is best to start acting, and does age matter in acting. You would have noticed that some actors rose to fame from a young age, such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert Downey Jr., Ryan Reynolds, Natalie Portman, Keira Knightly or Bryce Dallas Howard.
This can lead you to think that acting is something that you need to do from childhood in order to succeed, but that is not the whole truth.
For example, Harrison Ford was cast in Star Wars at the age of 33, and was previously working as a carpenter. In a similar way, Hollywood star Samuel L. Jackson was working as a social worker, and only became famous after his breakout role in Pulp Fiction at age 45.
This shows that whilst it can be beneficial to begin your acting career as soon as you can, it does not mean that you have to give up after you reach a certain age. So, what age is best to start acting?
What age is best to start acting?
Whilst many successful actors got cast in their biggest roles later in life, you may not want to miss the boat, and are trying to find out when is the best time to start acting. The truth is, there is no perfect age to start acting.
If this is a career that you want to pursue, then you can start whenever. As long as you are committed, passionate and ready to put in the hard work and the effort, then the best age for you to start acting is right now.
Becoming an actor is no easy feat, and you will not reach stardom overnight, which is why so many young people and child actors become famous. It really comes down to them building up an acting portfolio and career over time, as this is something that can help get you seen by casting directors, or get your name out there.
However, this is not always the case. You may find that you are the perfect fit for a role, and a director may choose you because you can take the role in another direction.
There are benefits to starting acting at a young age, as you can keep at it for years, and dedicate a lot of time and effort into reaching your goals, but working as a young actor can also be very difficult. You may find it hard to sustain yourself in between roles and auditions, and you may find it not financially viable to live like this.
On the other hand, starting to act later in life may feel like you have missed out on something, or that you have delayed your progress, but the plus points are that you have life experience to bring to the role, along with confidence, and you will most likely be more financially stable to pursue your dream career.
We would argue that the best age to begin an acting career is whenever you are ready to put in the hard work and dedication!
What age can you go to acting school?
You can actually go to acting school from the age of 18, as most courses and diplomas require you to be over this age to begin. However, there is no limit as to when you can go. If you choose to go to acting school at age 30, 40, or 50, you are able to do so.
No, age does not matter in acting. Some of the greatest actors of our time were working in other career paths before getting their first breakthrough role, and some actors did not even intend on acting, and already had successful careers in other areas. If you want to become an actor, then you need to remember that you have to put the work in.
Yes, some people are lucky enough to be scouted, or may find the right role for them with ease, but others have to put in years of dedication, work and passion before becoming an actor. If it is something that you want to do, then no matter what age you are, you can do it.
