starting out

182 articles
Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Working Between Roles: The Reality of Life as an Actor

After the recent job-shaming of actress Katie Jarvis by a tabloid newspaper, Samantha Rea explores the reality of an actor’s working life and the importance of keeping busy. While the viewing public might struggle to understand how an actor might need to work in a shop after a role on prime-time television, it comes as no […]

finances/legal
making work
samantha rea
Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Network is Important, Community is Essential

Feeling part of something is key for everyone but what if you work in one of the most competitive industries in the world? How do you work towards and finally feel like you really belong? Actor Katherine Kerman shares her story and advice. As a London-based American actor, I know a thing or two about […]

katherine kerman
mental health
networking
The Essentials
How to Deal With Career Envy

Whilst we are (usually) almost always happy for fellow performers to land a job, it’s still perfectly natural to feel a little envious. Here are some tips for dealing with career envy. Resilience in the face of repeated rejection is one of the most vital skills an actor can learn , which is why it’s hammered home from […]

auditions
mental health
starting out
The Essentials
How to Read A Call Sheet

The essentials you need to know about reading the call sheet for set! Call sheets contain all the vital information you need for a smooth day of production on set. But if this is your first TV or film job, deciphering the call sheet can be a fine art in itself. Here are some basic […]

film
first person
laura murray
Getting Work
hero image
Tree Petts’ Tips for Commercial Casting

Tree Petts, CDA, gives us her tips for nailing your next commercial audition The CDA’s Tree Petts talks to Spotlight all about the practicalities of commercial castings, including what she wants to see in the room. These are the essentials you need to know before your next audition! Check out more videos on the Spotlight […]

auditions
casting directors
commercials
The Spotlight Podcast
Your Working Rights, Pay and Taxation as a Performer

Everything a performer needs to know about taxation, worker rights and contracts. In this episode of The Spotlight Podcast, you’ll find out all about your rights and duties as a freelance worker. We talk Alan Lean and Stephen Duncan-Rice from Equity, who give us the lowdown on everything a self-employed performer needs to navigate the less than […]

finances/legal
podcast
starting out
The Spotlight Podcast
How Young Performers Get Theatre Work

Casting Director Verity Naughton gives all the key advice for young performers on stage. In this episode of The Spotlight podcast, we’re joined by Casting Director Verity Naughton, CDG where we talk all about young performer casting. Topics we cover include: Headshots What you should and should not include on your profile How casting works, […]

auditions
casting directors
musical theatre
The Essentials
A Director’s Advice for Actors with Bruce Goodison

Essential tips for actors, from director Bruce Goodison Director Bruce Goodison (director of Born to Kill, Murdered By My Father, Leave to Remain, and many others), talks to Spotlight about: The stories that interest and inspire him; What he expects and looks for in the audition room; His expectations of actors on set; Advice for having […]

auditions
directors
starting out
The Spotlight Podcast
Voice and Accent Work with Nina Zendejas

Expert Tips to Master Accents, RP and Character Voice Work. In this episode of The Spotlight Podcast, we talk to Nina Zendejas, an international voice coach specialising in accent and dialect, and native to the United States. Currently working as the Head of Voice at Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts (MT) in London, she […]

accents
auditions
podcast
Getting Work
Theatre Audition Tips with Ruth O’Dowd

Have you got a theatre audition coming up? Check out Ruth O’Dowd’s top tips for auditioning for theatre, from our latest Open House… Are you waiting for your next audition? Downtime is the perfect opportunity to rework those auditioning muscles. It’s easy as an actor to get caught up in your own head, especially when […]

auditions
christina care
open house