HOW TO BECOME AN ACTOR
Everyone Starts Somewhere
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Before the credits, the auditions, the agent, and the career, there is a beginning.
And if you're thinking, "I want to become an actor, but I have no idea where to start," you're in the right place.
You don't need professional experience before you begin. You don't need an agent. You don't need a résumé full of credits.
But if you want to build a career as an actor, you do need to start developing the craft.
At Braden Lynch Studio, we work with actors who are serious about learning, growing, and building careers in film and television. Whether you're starting with no experience or you're still trying to figure out your next step, the goal is the same: build the skills and understanding you need to become a capable, prepared actor.
How Do You Become an Actor?
There is no single moment when someone suddenly becomes an actor.
You build toward it.
You learn the craft. You train. You practice. You gain experience. You audition. You continue improving.
The exact path will look different for every actor, but there are some fundamentals that nearly everyone needs to address.
Start by Learning How to Act
The first thing you need is a foundation.
Before worrying about agents, headshots, or booking your first major role, learn how the craft actually works.
That means developing your ability to:
• Understand and analyze a script
• Create specific, believable characters
• Understand human behavior
• Make strong choices
• Work truthfully within imaginary circumstances
• Handle emotionally demanding material
• Take direction and make adjustments
• Prepare scenes and auditions
Acting isn't simply about pretending to be someone else.
It's a craft.
And like any craft, you get better by learning, practicing, receiving useful feedback, and continuing to develop.
How to Start Acting With No Experience
One of the most common questions aspiring actors ask is:
Can I become an actor with no experience?
Yes.
Everyone who has experience now started without it.
You don't need professional credits before you begin training. You don't need to already understand acting terminology. You don't need to walk into your first class knowing exactly what you're doing.
That's why you're there.
The important thing is to start building a foundation instead of waiting until you somehow feel "ready."
You become more prepared by doing the work.
What Should a Beginner Actor Learn?
Script Analysis
How to connect to the emotional life of your character in a way that is honest, specific, and sustainable. Not by suffering or forcing, but by developing a real relationship to the circumstances of the scene or something similar.
Emotional Access
On-Camera Technique
Audition Preparation
Business of Acting
How to break down material in the most helpful way possible. Writers' intentions, what your character wants, conflict and contrast, what the scenes are actually about. Clear analytical tools that produce clear performance choices. For a deeper dive, see Script Analysis.
How to work with the camera. What reads on screen, what doesn't, and why. Stillness, eyelines, framing, physicalities, and the specific demands of film and television. See On-Camera Acting for more.
How to walk into an audition room (or set up a self-tape) and do your best work. For dedicated audition coaching, see Audition Prep.
Headshots, resumes, auditions, agents and managers, how to navigate the industry without getting lost or scammed, and more. For a deeper dive on this, read our beginner's guide to starting an acting career.
Do You Need Acting Classes to Become an Actor?
You don't necessarily need a university degree or a traditional conservatory program to become an actor.
But serious training is important.
Actors need somewhere to practice. They need feedback. They need to discover what's working and what isn't.
They need to learn how to approach material instead of reinventing the wheel every time they receive a script.
Consistent acting classes provide an environment where you can do that work over time.
You work. You get feedback. You watch other actors work. You try again.
And gradually, the things you're learning become tools you can actually use.
Weekly Acting Classes — $300 for Four Consecutive Weeks
1-on-1 Growth Coaching - $150/hr
Classes are the most efficient way to build foundational skills. You work on scenes, receive feedback, watch others work, and learn from both. The collaborative environment builds courage and community at the same time.
Classes are right for you if:
• You want consistent, affordable, ongoing training
• You learn well in a group setting
• You want community with other actors
• You're building foundational skills
Growth coaching gives you undivided attention and fully personalized instruction. Everything is tailored to your specific needs, your specific material, and your specific challenges as an actor.
Private coaching is right for you if:
• You want focused, one-on-one attention
• You have specific material to work on (an audition, a role you've booked)
• You prefer to work privately before joining a group
• You want to accelerate your development faster than weekly classes allow
Learn more about Growth Coaching →
Many actors at BLS do both: weekly class for ongoing training and community, and private sessions for audition prep or targeted skill development.
Online Options
Both classes and private coaching are available online via Zoom. If you're not in Los Angeles, online coaching gives you access to the same training worldwide.
The BLS GUARANTEE
If you attend your first cyle of four classes, put up work each week, and feel you haven't grown or learned anything of value, your class tuition will be refunded in full.
No argument or conditions. Just let us know before your 5th class.
How to Start Training as an Actor
Ready to Get Going?
An Intro Eval is the easiest way forward. Bonus: the $25 fee becomes credit on your account.
Can I become an actor with no experience?
Yes. Every actor starts without professional experience. You don't need credits, an agent, or a résumé before you begin. Start by learning the craft and training consistently so you can build the skills you need as opportunities begin to arise.
How do I start an acting career?
Start by developing your craft. Learn how to analyze scripts, understand characters, make specific choices, and work truthfully within imaginary circumstances. As you develop, you can begin gaining experience, learning how auditions work, creating professional materials, and pursuing opportunities.
You don't need to figure out your entire career out on day one. Start with your training and take the next step as you're ready.
Do I need acting school to become an actor?
No. You don't need a university degree or conservatory program to become an actor, but serious training is important. The goal is to find training that gives you practical tools, challenges you, provides useful feedback, and helps you continue developing over time.
Do I need an agent before I start acting?
No. You can begin learning and developing as an actor before pursuing representation. For many new actors, the better first question is how to become the kind of actor an agent or manager can eventually represent. You can learn more about getting acting auditions without an agent.
What should I learn first as a beginner actor?
Start with the fundamentals of the craft: understanding scripts, developing characters, investigating human behavior and relationships, working with emotional circumstances, and learning how to make specific choices. A strong foundation gives you tools you can continue using as your work becomes more challenging.
Should I take acting classes or work with a private acting coach?
Both can be valuable. Acting classes provide consistent practice, collaboration, feedback, and the opportunity to learn alongside other actors. Private coaching provides individualized attention and allows you to focus more deeply on your specific challenges and goals.
Many actors benefit from both at different points in their development.
When should I start auditioning?
You don't need to wait until you're a perfect actor, but it's important to develop enough training and understanding that you have useful tools to rely on when opportunities arrive. Auditioning is also a skill that improves with preparation and experience.
How long does it take to become an actor?
There isn't a fixed timeline. You can improve quickly with consistent training, but acting is a craft that continues developing throughout your career. The goal is to build a strong foundation and keep becoming more capable, specific, and prepared as the work becomes more demanding.
What happens after I start learning how to act?
As your skills develop, you'll gradually learn more than acting technique. Your career may eventually involve preparing auditions, creating self-tapes, gaining experience, pursuing representation, and preparing for professional roles.
You don't need to figure everything out at once. Build your craft first, then continue taking the next steps as you're ready.
