Backstage has played a vital role in the journeys of countless young actors, all working tirelessly to land that next gig. And many of them have gone on to see wild success. Don’t believe us? Take the word of any number of now-superstar performers, such as Academy Award nominee Jake Gyllenhaal, who revealed as much in his September 2019 cover story.
“I just wanted to let you know how excited I am to actually be a part of Backstage,” says the actor. “I remember when I was in high school, my acting teacher had Backstage magazine and I saw all the actors on it and wanted to be an actor, considered myself an actor, even at that time. It’s just such a great periodical.”
READ: Jake Gyllenhaal on the Art of Deconstruction
And though he now renders as one of the most sought-after leading men in both film and theater (at the time of this interview, he was starring opposite Tom Sturridge on Broadway in “Sea Wall/A Life”), Gylenhaal has not forgotten his acting roots—which, yes, include Backstage.
“I think about how much fun I had when I was a kid and I was acting in elementary school and in high school and my theater teacher there, in his office, had Backstage magazines,” he adds. “I just loved it. I loved the joy of doing it, it was just so fun. It’s like when you watch ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?’ and you see their imaginations just run up a storm. That is pure acting: How quick can it get to your heart? Can you astonish people with choices you’re making? How many choices can you make every minute? Is it two? Is it four? Is it 2 million? How many options do you have?”
The choices one can make when acting are endless. However, when looking for a job, Backstage is your best bet—just ask Jake Gylenhaal.
Read for your own big break? Apply to casting calls on Backstage!