Many aspiring actors ask, What education is needed to become an actor? While there is no single path, one thing is certain—serious aspiring actors need serious training.
Natural talent alone is not enough. Every successful actor hones their craft through disciplined practice, whether in an acting school, private acting classes, or under the guidance of acting coaches.
Developing acting skills like empathic listening, simplicity, vocal and physical ease, emotional accessibility, are incredibly important. A well-trained, educated actor can take a script, break it down, and create organic, vivid, fully realized behavior, consistently.
Formal university education is not required, but professional training is essential.
Casting directors and producers don’t just look for talent. They want actors who are prepared, skilled, and capable of making strong creative decisions on set. That’s why many actors train at Meisner acting studios, where they learn the fundamentals, the craft, and the artistry of acting. Professional acting training can sharpen your instincts, refine your technique, and instill the confidence needed to thrive in the acting industry.
In this blog, we’ll break down the best training options, from acting workshops to college degrees, and explain what truly prepares actors for a lasting acting career in theater, film, and television.
Key Takeaways
Raw talent is not enough—serious actors need professional training to succeed.
The best actors never stop learning, refining their craft, and pushing their limits.
MFS provides the focused, high-level training needed for a real acting career.
Myths About Actor Education
Many actors dream of making it big, but that is not a good reason to pursue a professional acting career. Becoming rich and famous is like winning the lottery, and the odds of that happening for you are next to zero.
If you look at the resumes of most accomplished actors, they have serious training under their belt. The right training builds skill, confidence, and longevity in the industry. Still, plenty of myths surround actor education—let’s set the record straight.
Myth 1: You either have it or you don’t
Some believe acting is purely a natural talent, something you are born with or without. While talent is helpful, it is not enough to sustain a real acting career.
Many actors with natural abilities struggle because they lack the technical skills needed to do consistently good work. They have no craft or process when it comes to creating behavior for a living.
A serious artist in any medium masters their instrument. This is true for musicians, painters, dancers, sculptors, even athletes.
Only wannabe actors think that all they need is their personality, some headshots, and a resume. These people give it up after a couple of years because of the grind, and constant rejection. Sustaining a decades-long career requires an incredible amount of hard work, grit, resilience, and determination.
Myth 2: A college degree guarantees success
Earning an acting degree from a university or community college can provide valuable training but at an astronomical cost. A BA or BFA can run anywhere from 60K - 200. This is crazy. The majority of students who come to MFS to train with me have a BA or BFA, or have decided to leave college to get the professional training they crave.
Bottom line, the entertainment industry values skill, consistency, and the fusion of talent and craft more than a degree.
An MFA in acting is incredibly valuable if you can get into one of the top three schools: Yale, Julliard, or NYU. If you are interested in academia, or an advanced degree beyond an MFA, there are wonderful graduate programs throughout the country.
But you do not need a university degree to have a successful acting career. What you do need is serious, conservatory style training from an acting studio with a long standing and well earned reputation for producing successful actors.
Many actors build their careers through acting workshops, two-year conservatory acting programs like MFS, and private coaching rather than relying on a college degree alone. Structured education can be beneficial, but consistent training and practical application are what truly prepare actors for success.
Myth 3: Self-taught actors have equal opportunities
There are stories of actors who built successful careers without formal training, but they are very rare exceptions. If I were you, I wouldn’t be banking a long and productive acting career on my instincts and perceived talent. Just look at the resumes of working actors, and you will find that they have trained seriously.
Many who skip acting classes because they think that life will just pass them by often struggle for years before they realize that the lack of training has really hurt them. For some reason, aspiring actors think that this art form is easy, and that all you need is looks and personality. No other art form creates this kind of fantastical thinking.
The best actors never stop learning. They are obsessive and work to master their instrument, studying with top teachers to refine their acting technique. The great actors are serious artists who possess craft and are dedicated to artistry.
What Does an Actor Truly Need to Learn?
Talent is the smallest part of the equation. To build a lasting acting career, you must develop a strong foundation of technical and creative skills.
Directors, casting directors, and producers look for actors who can take direction, make bold choices, and bring authenticity to every role. No matter how an actor trains, mastering these key areas is essential for success in film, television, and theater.
Emotional depth & vulnerability
A great piece of acting is rooted in truth and authenticity. Aspiring actors must learn to tap into real emotions, connect with a character’s experiences, and bring honesty to every scene. Audiences and industry professionals recognize when an actor is working in an experiential way.
Training helps develop emotional accessibility and helps the actor work in an experiential way, free of tension and strain. This is hard, challenging work. Most actors lack depth, and have vocal and physical issues that make their work pedestrian and unwatchable.
Physical awareness & movement
Any serious artist masters their instrument, and this is also necessary for any actor who wants to create compelling work. An actor’s body and voice is a storytelling tool. Screen actors and stage performers alike need control over their physical instrument.
If you want to take on rich, complicated parts and roles that require depth and vivid emotional expression, you want a well-developed body, and a voice that is clear, resonant, and versatile. A tense and physically strained actor is hard to watch, and cannot move an audience.
Any legitimate NYC acting studio should provide rigorous training for the voice and body. The acting classes NYC offers are wide-ranging and vary greatly in the quality of teaching. I would suggest looking into two-year conservatory programs like the Maggie Flanigan Studio for the most comprehensive professional acting studios NYC has to offer.
Voice & speech training
An audience will overlook a lot of things, but the fastest way to piss off an audience is to not be heard or understood. Even in film & television, I am forced to watch shows with the captions on because half the actors have muddled speech and horrible diction. It's lazy and the mark of an untrained hack.
Clear, resonant speech is essential for professional actors. Training helps develop projection, diction, dialects, and vocal stamina, all of which are key for theater, film, and television work.
Many roles require accents or vocal flexibility, and actors who invest in voice training have a greater advantage during casting calls and auditions.
Script analysis & character development
Actors must break down a writer’s script to understand character motivations, relationships, and emotional beats. The ability to justify text, create impulses, implant meaning, do actions, and bring insightful psychopathology to character interpretation is one of the biggest things that separates the hack from the artist.
Reading between the lines is just as important as memorizing them. Studying text and subtext helps actors bring authentic choices to auditions, rehearsals, and performances. Strong cold reading skills also allow actors to quickly interpret a script, make essential choices, and follow instincts.
Improvisation & adaptability
Scenes don’t always go as planned. Directors give last-minute adjustments, other actors change their delivery, and live performances can take unexpected turns.
Actors trained in improv possess adaptability, can stay present, react spontaneously, and keep a scene alive under any circumstances. This skill is especially useful in auditions, screen tests, and live theater.
Audition & cold reading skills
Auditions are where actors work the hardest to land roles. Knowing how to prepare, stay confident, and make an impression in just a few minutes is crucial.
Cold reading skills allow actors to quickly make choices, pick up a script and bring it to life, which is often required in casting calls for film, television, and theater productions.
On-camera vs. stage acting
Creating behavior is the actor’s job, regardless of the medium. Yes, there are technical adjustments that are required for each medium but the goal is always the same, illuminating the human condition.
Acting on the big screen is different from performing on stage. Screen actors must adjust to camera angles, lighting, and subtle expressions, while stage performers rely on projection and movement to reach a live audience.
Understanding both styles gives actors more career opportunities and helps them move between film, television, and theater productions with confidence.
Educational Paths for Actors
There are many ways to train as an actor. Some choose college classes in fine arts, while others develop their acting skills through two-year conservatories like MFS, private coaches, and then the practical application of craft with student films or black box productions.
Each path has advantages and challenges, but what matters most is finding the right training to support a lasting acting career.
Traditional college degrees (BFA/MFA in acting or theater)
Many aspiring actors pursue a college degree in acting, theater, or fine arts. These programs are ridiculously overpriced but can offer structured, generalized training in movement, voice, and performance while providing opportunities to act in productions like musicals, school plays, and student films.
Some schools also help students connect with agents, directors, and producers through industry showcases.
Pros:
A well-rounded education that includes acting, theater history, and general education classes
Access to faculty mentorship and professional networks
Performance opportunities that help build acting experience
Cons:
Expensive and time-consuming, often taking many years to complete
Some programs focus more on theory than practical, industry-ready skills
Limited focus on auditioning and the business side of acting
Private acting studios & conservatories
Many successful actors train at NYC acting schools and conservatories that specialize in performance-based education. These programs offer immersive, hands-on training in acting techniques, audition prep, and camera technique.
Unlike a college degree, a conservatory or private studio focuses entirely on developing acting skills rather than including unrelated academic coursework. This makes this option ideal for serious actors seeking intensive training.
Pros:
Intensive, practical training with industry professionals at an affordable cost
Focused curriculum designed to prepare actors for auditions and professional work
Stronger networking opportunities with fellow actors, directors, and casting directors
Cons:
Highly competitive admissions and demanding coursework
Requires full commitment and discipline
No formal education credentials like a traditional degree
Local theater, community classes & online courses
Actors who are just starting out often gain acting experience through local theater groups, community workshops, and online classes. These programs can be a great way to build confidence, develop rudimentary techniques, and meet other actors without the commitment of a full-time program.
Pros:
Affordable and accessible to beginners
A good way to develop skills while working on other commitments
Some workshops offer training from experienced actors and directors
Cons:
Less rigorous and comprehensive than professional programs
Fewer industry connections and networking opportunities
May not offer the depth of training needed for a professional acting career
Learning through experience alone (The non-traditional path)
Some actors skip formal training and go straight into auditions, hoping to land roles through persistence and natural talent. In my opinion, these are the hacks, those that have no understanding that acting is an art form that demands craft and artistry. While a few have found success this way, it is the most challenging and least respected.
Without structured training, actors often take many years to develop the skills needed to stand out in casting calls and land a big break.
Pros:
No tuition costs or time spent in formal education
Immediate access to auditions and industry opportunities
Cons:
Difficult to compete with trained actors
Limited understanding of professional techniques and on-set expectations
Risk of developing bad habits without guidance from acting coaches
Why Training Matters in a Competitive Industry
No matter how an actor starts, proper training is essential for long-term success. The entertainment industry is highly competitive, and talent alone is not enough to sustain a career.
Aspiring actors who invest in professional development stand out in auditions, take direction better, and adapt more easily to the demands of film, theater, and television.
The best actors never stop training
Even the most experienced actors continue refining their craft. Ongoing training keeps an actor sharp, their instrument tuned, and their imagination continually challenged.
Working with acting coaches, attending acting workshops, and staying involved in professional training prevent stagnation and keep actors sharp in an evolving industry.
Casting directors value professionalism
Casting teams look for more than raw talent. They want actors who are disciplined, prepared, and capable of delivering strong performances under pressure. Proper training teaches actors how to handle auditions, collaborate with directors and producers, and bring a polished performance to the set.
A strong foundation creates longevity
Actors who understand technique have more control over their craft and greater confidence in their choices.
Training helps develop acting skills that are useful across different mediums, from musicals and stage productions to movies and television. Those who master technique build lasting careers rather than hoping and waiting for that one lucky break.
Even natural talent needs refinement
Some actors are naturally gifted, but without proper training, they may become limited in the types of roles they can play.
Studying different acting techniques expands an actor’s range and prevents them from being typecast. Training also helps actors develop the emotional depth and technical precision needed to bring a character to life.
How to Choose the Right Acting Training
Choosing the right training is one of the most important steps for anyone looking to become a professional actor.
The wrong program can waste time and money without preparing actors for real industry demands. The best training helps actors grow, develop technique, and gain the confidence needed to succeed in theater, film, and television productions.
Consider your goals
Not all acting training is the same. Someone interested in musicals will need different training than an actor pursuing movies or commercial work. Actors who desire the ability to work in any medium must develop a solid technique. This includes physical and vocal training, along with continued education in film, television, and theater history.
Defining career goals early helps narrow down training options that align with specific industry demands.
Evaluate training styles
There are many approaches to acting, and different programs emphasize different techniques.
Some schools, like the Maggie Flanigan Studio focus on the Meisner Technique, which I believe is the greatest way to train an actor and instill in them a fundamental way of working. Others teach Method acting, which draws on personal experience for emotional manipulation. Classical training focuses on text work, such as Shakespeare and period style.
Researching various methods helps actors choose the approach that best suits their strengths and interests.
Research faculty & alumni success
A good acting program should be led by a master teacher, and professionals with extensive teaching and industry experience. Look for instructors who have worked as actors, directors, or producers in film, theater, or television.
The success of past students is another key factor. If graduates go on to work in major productions or sign with agents, it speaks to the quality of the training.
Look for intensive, hands-on training
Acting is a craft that must be practiced, not just studied. Programs that focus on real-world applications, such as scene work, on-camera training, and live performances, provide more value than lecture-heavy courses.
Some programs even offer training in areas like working with video editors, camera operators, and backstage crews, giving actors a broader understanding of how productions work.
Find a supportive & challenging environment
The best training should push actors outside their comfort zones while helping them grow.
A strong program provides constructive feedback, professional expectations, and a sense of community with fellow actors. It should challenge students to take risks, refine their craft, and prepare for the realities of actors’ work in a demanding industry.
The Best Place to Train: Maggie Flanigan Studio
Raw talent is not enough to build a real acting career. Great actors train seriously, push past their limits, and develop a craft that stands out in film, television, and theater. At MFS, actors do the work required to go from amateurs to professionals.
The studio’s two-year conservatory is built on the Meisner Technique, a method that teaches actors to listen, respond truthfully, and bring depth to every performance.
Training goes beyond acting alone. Students sharpen their voice, movement, and professional skills, preparing them for the demands of auditions, rehearsals, and life on set. With small class sizes and experienced faculty, every actor gets the focused attention needed to grow.
Get the training that sets you apart
Actors from the Maggie Flanigan Studio work in movies, television, and theater productions, proving that top-tier training leads to real opportunities. If you're ready to train like a professional and take your craft seriously, call us today.
Conclusion
Talent alone is not enough. Acting is a craft that demands discipline, skill, and serious training. The actors who succeed in film, television, and theater are the ones who commit to their development.
A college degree is not required to become an actor, but the right training sets professionals apart. At MFS, actors gain the technique, confidence, and professionalism needed for a real career.
If you are serious about acting, it is time to train at the highest level.
Frequently Asked Questions
What studies are needed to become an actor?
There is no single academic path to becoming an actor, but serious training is essential. Many actors study at acting schools, conservatories, or college programs in theater or fine arts.
Others train through acting workshops, private coaching, and real-world experience. The key is to develop acting skills, technique, and professionalism to compete in the industry. If you're ready to take the next step, don't miss this guide.
What qualifications do you need to be an actor?
Formal qualifications are not required, but professional training and experience make all the difference. Casting directors look for actors with strong technique, audition skills, and on-set professionalism.
Many actors gain experience through theater productions, short films, and acting classes, while top studios like Maggie Flanigan Studio provide the advanced training needed to work at the highest level.
How much do actors get paid?
An actor’s salary varies widely based on experience, roles, and industry demand. Some work for day rates or theater stipends, while established actors earn union wages, residuals, or major film contracts.
According to labor statistics, the median salary for actors fluctuates, with many starting in supporting roles before landing higher-paying opportunities. Training and persistence are key to long-term job growth in this competitive field.
Comments