There’s Nothing More Boring Than an Actor Who Does Nothing But Act

Let me tell you about a meeting I took last year with an actor looking for representation. Rob was 24, attractive, and very personable. He had been referred to me by his acting teacher, who raved about his potential, and by the time the two of us were done talking, I knew we wouldn’t be working together.

First, let’s examine this kid on a professional level. Rob had been born and raised in Los Angeles by parents who worked in the entertainment industry. He went to school at UCLA and, since graduating, he had trained with the usual suspects. At this point, Rob had no real credits, but he had done a few plays around town and he had booked some commercials.

Now, let’s look at him on a personal level. Rob had lived his entire life in Southern California. All his studying had taken place right here. The most exotic vacation he’d ever taken was a weekend trip down to Mexico. His entire focus had been on becoming an actor. That was his dream. But what he failed to understand is that acting is based on life experience, and you can’t be a good actor if you don’t have a life.

Yes, he was young with a great look and personality, but that isn’t always enough. According to his teacher, the seeds of talent were there, but there were still leaps for him to make before he could have an actual career. So, what distinguished him from every other newbie? The answer is not much. That’s why I passed.

READ: How to Make a Living as an Actor

Did I make a judgement call? Sure. That’s exactly what I did. And I could be wrong. Rob might go on to have an amazing career; all I have is my professional opinion, and that’s what I live by.

Now, here’s what I would’ve done in his shoes. If I grew up in the heart of the entertainment industry, I would at some point seek experience and adventure in a different market. That might mean going to New York or Atlanta after I graduated. Or maybe I would hop over the pond and take some courses in London. I guarantee all those moments would make me a stronger, more well-rounded performer.

During our meeting, we discussed Rob’s hobbies, and they were all related to acting. The kid loved going to movies, making and posting shorts, seeing plays—that sort of thing. That’s all fine, but it’s also kind of boring. When I was his age, I had just started my first career in post-production, but I had already visited two countries in Europe, and I was also learning more than I’ll ever need to know about shooting hustler-level pool.

The bottom line is there’s nothing more boring than an actor who acts and does nothing else. I meet these people all the time: “I’m putting my personal life on hold till I get an agent.” “I will go home for the holidays after I get in the union.” “I’ll travel when I book my first job.” How boring and self-defeating.

It’s like the famous line from “Dune”: “A person needs new experiences. They jar something deep inside, allowing him to grow. Without change, something sleeps inside us and seldom awakens. The sleeper must awaken.”