I Can’t Become An Actor
I’ve always loved a good underdog story. Or perhaps a story where the hero’s brilliance is finally revealed through a combination of hard work, excellence, spirit and a little luck.
So many people ask about the route to becoming an actor. And I want to tell them that it’s much harder than they think. It’s often very different from what they imagine. In fact, what they imagine has little to do with the business of being an actor. It takes an awful lot of hard work, a dedication to training, then gaining experience, getting an agent, getting experience and finally working as a jobbing actor.
Two Types of People
Yet there is a sort of Eeyore mentality that I meet from people who say they would love to be actors, but they can’t. And they list the reasons.
There are two people you meet in this life (A blog I wrote about them). People with their eyes on the prize and people with their eyes on the obstacles. Every time I meet people who are firmly fixed on the obstacles, I know they probably aren’t going to make it. Because to motivate yourself through this actor’s life, you have to keep dipping into the well of self-belief, into motivation, into confidence and you have to be focused on achieving your goals.
And when people tell me sob stories, about not being able to afford to train, or some other reason that they can’t be what they say they want, I tell them the story of Michael Balogun.
Michael Balogun's Story
Michael Balogun went to prison from some very serious crimes. He grew up in a tough part of London, and as a teenager, he became heavily involved in crime from a young age. WIthout a strong family to take care of him, he drifted into a circle of friends that were involved in stealing, then he graduated from stealing to robbing. From there he was selling drugs. Inevitably, he went to prison.
Michael never felt like this was his route, he always felt like he was travelling on someone else’s path. Inside prison, Michael became involved in the prison restaurant, a training programme called The Clink that trains offenders to work in the hospitality industry. While still in prison, Michael got a job in the bar at RADA, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. He says he never felt judged there. Despite having been to prison several times. While at the interview for RADA, Michael asked if anyone ever attended RADA as a student actor after working there in some other capacity. They told him no.
Michael decided to audition for their 3 year BA in Acting course at RADA.
Michael had a tough upbringing - it didn’t stop him.
Michael went to prison many times - it didn’t stop him.
Michael obviously has a criminal record - it didn’t stop him.
Michael was told no one ever got into RADA ‘through the back door’ - it didn’t stop him.
Michael auditioned against 4000 other applicants - it didn’t stop him.
Michael doesn’t have a private income - it didn’t stop him.
Michael didn’t do his first speech too well - it didn’t stop him.
Michael was asked to do another speech - it didn’t stop him.
Michael was given one of only 28 places at RADA - it hadn’t stopped him.
Michael trained for 3 years at RADA and later went on to perform at the National Theatre in London in a production of MacBeth. He continues to work as a professional actor.
You have two choices. Commit to your goal of becoming an actor. Or please stop talking about it. Because Michael had every disadvantage and he still didn’t quit. So what’s stopping you?
You can’t become an actor? Only YOU can decide that.