Actors and comedians (NOC 5135)

Nature of work

Actors and comedians perform roles in motion picture, television, theatre and radio productions to entertain a variety of audiences. They are employed by motion picture, television, theatre and other production companies. This unit group includes acting teachers employed by private acting schools.

Main duties

Actors and comedians perform some or all of the following duties:
- Study and rehearse lines, gestures and expressions to interpret a role
- Portray roles in video or motion picture productions, television shows, theatre productions, radio dramas, commercials and other productions or perform the narration
- Sing or dance as required by specific roles
- Continued…
- Perform comedy acts in nightclubs alone or as members of comedy troupes
- Improvise a role.
Acting teachers perform some or all of the following duties:
- Train students in interpretation of scripts, speech, movement, and dramatic theory
- Prepare acting students for specific auditions and performances.

Employment requirements

• * Demonstrated ability, based on an audition or previous acting roles, is an important hiring criteria.
• * Acting programs are offered at universities, colleges and private acting schools.
• * Acting teachers usually require experience as actors.
• * Membership in a guild or union may be required.