How to Become an Actress Without Experience: The Professional Approach

Most people asking how to become an actress without experience are hoping there’s a shortcut. There isn’t. In what world can you have a desire to do something but not put in any time figuring out how to do it and do it well? 

If you want to be good at anything, study it, master it. You can’t skip the work, and you shouldn’t want to. Acting is not about the pop culture superficiality of fame and celebrity. It’s about truth and the illumination of the human condition. If that doesn’t interest you, you're a hack.

At the Maggie Flanigan Studio, our acting classes in NYC are designed for anyone at any level who is truly interested in serious professional acting training. We work with students who are passionate about the art form, and want a decades long career at the highest levels of the industry.

In this latest blog, I will discuss how you can become an actress without experience by focusing on what actually matters: training, a dedication to artistry and hard work, along with a professional mindset from day one.

Key Takeaways

• You don’t need credits to be an actor, but you do need real training.

• The industry respects craft, not potential or personality.

• Stop guessing and start doing the work that will allow you to be consistently vivid.

Decide If You Really Want to Be a Serious Actor

Every successful actor started out with nothing—no credits, no agent, no reel. What set them apart wasn’t luck, although nepo-babies do get doors open for them much more easily. It was commitment and hard work. Before you think about casting calls or acting jobs, get clear on why you're doing this.

Get clear on your motivation

You need to have a clear vision of the type of actor you want to be. Ask yourself if you want to become an actress because you are fascinated with the human condition and have an overpowering need to create, or if you just like the attention. If it’s the latter, you won’t make it. 

What contribution do you want to make? Why should anyone watch you? Why should anyone care? The question is not whether or not you have talent; it’s whether or not you are professionally viable.

Treat acting like a career, not a hobby

It’s one thing to say you like acting; it's something else to say you actually want to pursue a professional acting career. The acting industry is competitive. Casting directors want professionals who are trained, reliable, and emotionally alive. If you're not serious about learning the craft, you won't last long.

Build the right mindset from day one

Being an actor with no experience is fine. Showing up unprepared isn’t. Before you start auditioning, decide if you are confident in knowing what to do. 

Every time you get a piece of material, do you have a consistent way of creating organic, vivid, fully realized human behavior? Do you possess technique and craft? Working actors build decades-long careers by committing to the art form and mastering their instrument. Do you think it applies to every other art form or skilled job in the world except for acting? Don’t kid yourself.

Start With Acting Classes, Not Headshots

You only get one shot to make a first impression. Why blow that opportunity by presenting yourself as untrained and unprepared? 

Before you start submitting to casting calls or searching for a talent agent, you need to learn how to act. The industry is filled with new actors trying to land roles without training, and that’s the fastest way to get passed over. Those actors will eventually quit or realize that they need to train and go do that.

Build skills before marketing yourself

Acting classes develop the skills casting directors care about—the ability to create vivid, truthful behavior with emotional depth, and strong choices. Without that, a resume or acting reel means very little. 

Many actors that interview with me at MFS are so worried that if they spend a few years actually learning what to do, that somehow their chance at a successful acting career is going to pass them by. This is the delusion of the young. If you want to present yourself to the industry as a serious actor, learn how to do it first. 

This seems like common sense to me. Casting directors care about what you can actually do in the room. Are you professionally viable? Acting classes give you the tools to show up prepared. If you want a long-term career, this is where it begins.

Train so you're not guessing

Without training, you’re just slapping some shit together and hoping it goes well. Would you want your accountant, dentist, plumber, or dry cleaner to approach what they do in the same way? 

The best NYC acting classes give you technique, help you break bad habits, and give you a consistent way of working that will be reliable under pressure. That kind of consistency matters when you’re standing in front of a camera or on stage.

Learn to Do Truthfully Under Imaginary Circumstances

Acting isn’t pretending or indicating emotion on cue. It’s the ability to create truthful, specific, vivid human behavior under imaginary circumstances. That’s what casting directors respond to. If you want to become an actress who has the craft to work professionally, you need to train yourself in the fundamentals of the art form.

Focus on behavior, not performance

Many new actors think acting means memorizing and saying lines with fake or forced emotion. They practice how they want to say their lines. This is hack acting 101. Great acting comes from a vivid imagination, and a solid technique that is rooted in listening, emotional fluidity, and specific, personal crafting. 

You must have a pliable body, a resonant voice, and the ability to go from unanticipated moment to unanticipated moment. You can’t fake that—industry professionals know the difference between a well-trained artist and a hack.

Let go of results and work moment to moment

Trying to show emotion or "look right" makes you look like an untrained amateur. The real skill is responding truthfully, staying present, and crafting with simplicity. That’s the bare minimum an actor needs to have in order to create behavior, which is the actor’s job.

Build acting skills that hold up

You don’t need formal education to start, but you do need to acquire a process. Acting classes help you develop instincts, body awareness, and voice control. That’s how you create consistent, believable work—on stage, in short films, student films, or professional auditions.

Train Your Instrument: Body and Voice Matter

Any serious artist in any art form masters their instrument. Acting is no different. It is a physical, vocal, and emotionally demanding medium. Your body and voice are your instrument of expression, and if they are tense or locked up, your work will be incredibly limiting and probably unwatchable.

Tension, poor diction, and lack of physical dimension will sabotage everything you do.

Build physical control and presence

Stage and film require complete physical awareness. The best actors have no physical clutter. They have ease and simplicity with everything they do. 

Untrained actors will be riddled with their unconscious, pedestrian clutter. Movement training teaches you how to stay grounded, move with purpose, and allow for a rich inner life that is free of strain and tension.

Train your voice to work under pressure

If casting directors cannot hear or understand you, you will not get the role. Voice training develops articulation, breath control, and range. You need to be able to adjust your voice for a stage, a film set, or an audition room.

Be the actor who can do it all

A serious actor never strives to be one-dimensional. Industry professionals want actors who possess emotional depth and vocal and physical dexterity in their work. Whether it’s student films, short independent films, or a fully budgeted professional production, your instrument must be ready to meet the demands of the role.

Start Auditioning After You've Trained

Once you have real, professional training, it’s time to start auditioning. You don’t need a talent agent or credits to begin, but you do need technique and craft. 

Auditions test your preparation, focus, and ability to work under pressure. If you don’t know how to audition well, you need to learn how to do it. There are thousands of well-trained actors who never work because they have not mastered the skill of auditioning.

Start with entry-level opportunities

Audition for student films, community theater, local productions, and indie projects. These roles help you gain experience, build your resume, and start collaborating with other artists. 

Casting websites are a good place to find listings, especially if you're in a major city. Make sure you have all of your assets, so that you present yourself as someone who has their shit together.

Use each audition to grow

Every audition is a chance to apply your training. Stay focused, do your script analysis, ground yourself in the fundamentals, and be present. If you don’t book it, fine—you most likely won’t. Booking is not the goal. The goal is to do good work and leave a great impression. If you can do that, no one will forget you. That’s what moves your career forward.

Keep showing up prepared

You won’t land every role. In fact, if you book 4 out of every 100, you will most likely be very successful. That’s a 96% rejection rate. Rejection is part of the process. What matters is your consistency. Casting directors and industry professionals notice actors who come in fully prepared with good work. Keep training, keep applying, and stay sharp.

Build an Acting Resume With No Experience

Every actor starts with a blank resume. Let the first thing you put on that page be serious training from a respected professional actor conservatory program. Then, you back that up with solid acting.

If you’re an actor with no experience, your resume should still show that you’re training, committed, and ready to work. Casting directors don’t expect big credits, but they do expect professionalism and vivid, interesting choices.

Make sure your resume is industry standard and easy to read

If you’re taking acting classes, make sure that it is on your resume. Mention the studio, the  teachers, and the specific classes you have taken. 

Casting directors are busy and want to be able to do a quick glance at your resume. They know where to look, and if what they’re looking for isn’t where it should be, it can be irritating. So format your resume to industry standards. And most importantly, don’t lie on your resume. At some point, your lie will be exposed and you will be rightly humiliated. Just be honest.

Include real work, not just paid work

List student films, local theater, community theater, and scenes from your acting training if that's all you have to start with. These early jobs are important because they give you a chance to apply your craft, give you acting experience, and help you establish professional relationships. 

If you’ve done background work in film or TV, I would not include that on your resume. No one, and I mean no one gives a shit about background work. Plus, you don’t want anyone in the industry seeing you that way. If you like doing it, that's absolutely fine, just don’t put it on your resume.

Add special skills that matter

Casting directors often scan resumes for specific skills. List anything relevant to film acting or stage—accents, dialects, stage combat, horseback riding,  speaking other languages, dance, specific sports talents, or versatility with musical instruments. Keep it honest and useful.

Keep the format clean and professional

Use a simple layout:  Experience (separate Film/TV and Theater), Training, Special Skills. Include your name, contact info, and if you have one, a link to your own acting website or casting profile. No need for flashy design. The goal is clarity and professionalism.

Create an Acting Reel That Shows Potential

If you’re an actor with no experience, your reel should focus on craft, not credits. You don’t need scenes from a professional film or TV show. You need strong, honest work that shows you can play a character truthfully and with specificity. 

A good reel tells casting directors you’re worth calling in, even if you’re new.

Use scenes that show real work

Make sure whatever you use is well shot, and edited well. If you have no reel, I recommend using REELARC, or someone who does the same thing. They create the best demo reels in the business, and MFS uses them to shoot our students' reels in our Professional Actor Business Program.

Two-person scenes work best. You can also include a monologue, but make sure it feels grounded and connected. Avoid overly produced footage with dramatic music or flashy edits. Let the work speak for itself.

Focus on simplicity and connection

The goal is not to show range. It’s to show that you know how to create behavior consistently. Choose two contrasting scenes that’s close to your age and type. Stay grounded, emotionally available, and specific. Casting directors want to see if you can listen, respond, and live truthfully under imaginary circumstances.

Keep it short and focused

Your reel should be under two minutes. One great scene is better than three forgettable ones. If you’re still building your reel, start with one strong, well-acted clip and add to it as you gain experience.

Network With Other Actors and Artists

If you want a real acting career, surround yourself with serious artists. The people you train with now will often become the collaborators, directors, and casting connections you work with later. Relationships built on mutual respect matter in this industry.

Connect through class and training

Acting class is where real networking starts. You're working alongside actors who are focused and committed. These are the people who will recommend you for auditions or cast you in their projects. Do the work and connect with those who take it seriously.

Build relationships on set and at events

Whether you're doing student films, off-off Broadway theater, or small indie projects, build relationships with those whose work you respect and admire. Surround yourself with talented people, not the lazy and unserious. 

Stay engaged, be professional, and pay attention. Attend readings, workshops, or events where working artists show up. These moments are great opportunities to meet new people and establish connections.

Earn trust through the work

Other actors want to work with people who are hard working, talented, and professional. If you’re consistent and serious, word gets around. That kind of reputation opens doors—often before a talent agent ever does.

Say Yes to Small Opportunities

Early in your acting career, the smartest thing you can do is take the work that’s available. Student films, short films, local theater, or unpaid roles might not sound glamorous, but they give you what you need most—experience.

Build real acting experience

You need time on stage and in front of a camera. These smaller projects let you apply your training and test your ability to play roles with truth and specificity. Waiting for the perfect job or first role will keep you stuck.

Create material and relationships

Student and indie films can provide good content to start building your demo reel. Community theater can connect you with actors and directors who may lead to more opportunities. Every set and stage is a place to practice, grow, and build your craft and your reputation.

Keep your focus on the craft

What’s the rush? I listen to so many twenty somethings who worry that taking two to three years to actually learn how to act will set them back. This is horseshit. Not training in any way is what will set you back. 

Successful actors don’t skip steps. They spend their life dedicated to craft, they study, they work on themselves, gaining experience, and learning from every class, every audition, and every role. Your career is a marathon, not a sprint. If you’re consistent, serious, and always prepared, the bigger opportunities will come.

Don’t Dive Into Formal Education (Unless It’s Worth It)

You don’t need a college degree to become an actress! I think the biggest waste of money and time is a BA or BFA in acting. A formal education can help, but only if the training is rigorous and the program is considered one of the very best in the country. Plenty of successful actors have built their careers without a theater degree.

Choose craft over credentials

If you get into Juilliard, Yale, or NYU grad school, that's like winning the lottery. Those three schools carry tremendous sway in the industry, because their actors are incredibly well trained.

It’s also very hard to get into the top MFA programs. You need to look for acting studios that have the same standards, and a well-earned reputation for producing working actors. MFS has that reputation, as do other NYC acting schools.

Apply to the best programs, meet the Artistic Director, and find your artistic home.

Spend time with serious teachers

If you’re going to invest in your artistic development, find a teacher that isn’t full of shit. Find a teacher who considers teaching an art form. Find a teacher who is passionate about the craft.

Find a teacher that won’t accept your second best. Find a teacher who creates a safe and nurturing space, and also holds you to high professional standards. Find a teacher who actually knows what the fuck they’re talking about and gives it to you straight. Find a teacher who doesn’t pat everyone on the back and say good job, just because you are a creative human. 

Get clear on your goals

Feeling overwhelmed is common for any actor with no experience. The pressure to follow a traditional path—college, agents, the “right” steps—can actually keep you frozen from taking any meaningful steps forward towards your dreams.

You need to have a vision of the type of actor and artist you wish to be, and then spend your days pursuing that vision. Look for the best training you can find. Find an artistic home that will develop you into an actor with artistry and professionalism.

Stay Resilient and Keep Working on Your Craft

Rejection happens in this industry. You’ll attend auditions, do the work, and still not book the job. That’s part of being an actor. It’s not a reflection of your talent or potential. 

Casting is subjective. Your job is to stay focused on your craft. Enjoy the opportunity you have to act. If you can approach auditions in that way, with the understanding that you are not going to book this job, the pressure will ease up. Always remember you are a work in progress.

Emotional resilience matters

The actors who last are the ones who know how to take a hit and keep going. You won’t get called in for every movie, play, or commercial you submit for. That doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re pursuing a professional actor's life.

The entertainment industry demands thick skin, steady focus, and the ability to keep showing up, prepared and professional. You’ll need a deep well of grit and resilience.

Don’t tie your worth to the outcome

Let go of the need for approval. This is difficult, because we all want it, but you can’t work for it. The goal is not to impress, but to just commit to doing good work. The results will come in time. But you will need a hell of a lot of patience.

Keep training, keep creating, and keep improving. When you spend time on your craft, the results take care of themselves. The more grounded and consistent you are, the more audition opportunities will come.

Keep your head down and do the work

Every successful actor has been passed over many, many times. They didn’t quit. They built their acting career by staying committed, staying sharp, and showing up ready. You’ll fail if you do either one of these two things: don’t train, or quit.

How you navigate failure and rejection will go a long way in determining whether or not you will carve out a long and successful career. Believe in yourself, believe in your voice, and what it is you actually want to contribute to this art form. If you take yourself seriously, others will treat you the same.

Ready to Stop Guessing and Start Acting Like a Professional?

You’ve moved to New York. You’ve researched online, and looked over the many acting studios NYC has to offer. You’ve watched movies, maybe even done a few local theater projects or short films. You have this dream of being an actor, but don’t know where to begin. Deep down, you know something’s missing. You’re not booking consistently, your resume feels thin, and you’re starting to question if you really have what it takes to become an actor in this industry.

You don’t need another random class or more vague advice. You need real training. You need someone who will demand the highest standard from you and teach you how to meet it. That’s what we do at the Maggie Flanigan Studio.

Our two-year conservatory isn’t for actors who want to dabble. It’s for people who are ready to work, ready to commit, and ready to stop wasting time. 

You’ll train with me in the Meisner Technique, along with our other master teachers in movement, voice, script analysis, breathwork, and more. You’ll learn how to build a character, live truthfully in every moment, and create work that stands out in an overcrowded, mediocre industry.

If you’re tired of guessing your way through auditions and ready to train like a professional, call us to schedule an interview. Serious actors start here.

Conclusion

The entertainment industry isn’t looking for actors who want to be good. It’s looking for actors who are actually ready and capable of creating vivid, organic, fully realized human behavior.  You don’t need a long resume, a famous agent, or friends in the business to become an actor. You need craft, preparation, and a professional mindset from the start.

If you want more opportunities, stop guessing and start training. Build skills that hold up under pressure. Learn to create behavior that’s alive, specific, and grounded. Auditions are won by actors who know how to work, not those chasing fame or celebrity.

There’s no shortcut to being a real actress. There’s training, discipline, and a standard you hold yourself to every day. That’s what gets respect in this business.

Commit to the work. Train like it matters. And don’t wait for the industry to take you seriously—earn it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible to get into acting with no experience?

Yes—if you’re willing to train. Every actor starts with nothing. The ones who succeed commit to learning the craft and showing up with discipline. You don’t need credits to be taken seriously. You need skill, consistency, and a professional mindset.

How do I start acting by myself?

You don’t. Acting isn’t a solo skill. You need other actors, pressure, and real feedback to grow. Start with serious training. Work with people who know what they’re doing and are willing to push you to a higher standard.

What age is too late to start acting?

There’s no cutoff. The industry doesn’t care how old you are if you can do the work. If you’re serious, ready to train, and hold yourself to a professional standard, you can start any time.