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Actor/actress

Also called actor, actress, performer

Actors/actresses play roles and parts on live stage performances, TV, radio, video, motion picture productions, or other settings for entertainment or instruction. They use body language (gestures and dancing) and voice (speech and singing) in order to present the character or story according to the script, following the guidelines of a director.

Will there be jobs?Average prospects33 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Legal, social and cultural professionalsWhat does it pay?Above averageFrom about €1,800 (Bulgaria) to €8,800 (Luxembourg) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Legal, social and cultural professionalsWhat do I need to study?Usually a degree9 in 10 have a degree.Legal, social and cultural professionalsWill AI change it?LittleLevel 2 of 6. AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.Actors · ILO

What you'd do

Actors · ILO
  • Learning lines and cues and playing parts in dramatic productions on stage, commercials, television, radio or in motion pictures
  • Assuming characters created by a playwright or author and communicating this to an audience
  • Telling stories or reading literary works aloud to educate or entertain listeners
  • Attending auditions and casting calls in order to audition for roles
  • Preparing for performances through rehearsals under the instruction and guidance of production directors
  • Reading scripts and undertaking research to gain understanding of parts, themes and characteristics
  • Acting parts and portraying roles as developed in rehearsals in film, television, radio and stage productions
Follow time cuesAnalyse own performanceStudy roles from scriptsInteract with an audienceInteract with fellow actors+ 12 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors and outdoors
  • A mix of sitting and standing
  • Lots of contact with people
  • Some freedom to decide
  • Usually under 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Varied tasks, little repetition
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Actors"

Will there be jobs?

Average prospects

A typical number of jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as legal, social and cultural professionals in the EU
5.41m6.54m7.02m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
354,000 new jobs 1,872,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Legal, social and cultural professionals33
All jobs29
Right now
1 of 27 countries report a shortage of actors, 7 a surplus.
Actors · EURES

What does it pay?

Above average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,800 a month (Bulgaria) to €8,800 (Luxembourg), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among professionals in the EU, women earn 21% less per hour than men. Professionals · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually a degree

A degree in music and performing arts is the usual route.

Highest qualification of legal, social and cultural professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 87%Vocational 6%General secondary 5%Basic schooling 2%
Field that teaches it
Music and performing arts
Vocational route, EU
3 in 10 trainees in this field
Arts and humanities graduates in a matching job
52% in the EU

1,154 institutions in the EU offer arts and humanities bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Little

AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.31 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 7 tasks
Reading scripts and undertaking research to gain understanding of parts, themes and characteristics0.56
Telling stories or reading literary works aloud to educate or entertain listeners0.43
Assuming characters created by a playwright or author and communicating this to an audience0.32
Preparing for performances through rehearsals under the instruction and guidance of production directors0.30
Attending auditions and casting calls in order to audition for roles0.27
Learning lines and cues and playing parts in dramatic productions on stage, commercials, television, radio or in motion pictures0.20
Acting parts and portraying roles as developed in rehearsals in film, television, radio and stage productions0.12

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for actors. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).