How to Become an Actor as a Teenager (13 to 17)

You can start acting at 13, 15 or 17 with no experience. Train through school drama, community theatre and acting classes, get simple photos and a resume, then look for real auditions with a parent or guardian beside you. Never pay anyone to audition for you or to represent you. And don't worry about credits yet: casting directors told us teen roles often go to actors who have never booked a job.

Am I too old or too young to start acting at 13 to 17?

Neither. Parent experts Bonnie J Wallace and Karen Workman both told us people become actors at every age, and that starting as a teenager is a good time, not a late one.

Casting directors back that up. Kerry Barden said auditions for teen roles usually mix professional actors with teens who haven't booked anything yet. Bonnie Zane said a teen's job with her could be their first, and she'll see them after school.

Where should a teenager start?

Start where you are. Join the school play or drama club, audition for community theatre, and take an acting class. Karen Workman's advice is to try every kind of class eventually, starting with improv for confidence, then scene study and cold reading, and an audition class once auditions are real. In a small town, Bonnie says a plain acting class is fine: you learn by doing.

That experience counts. Casting director Ricki Maslar told us she'll give a new actor a shot even if they've only done church plays and classes. She once cast a 13 year old from a rural community who had submitted himself; he landed the supporting lead in her short film.

How do I get my parents on board?

You can't do this without them, and that's a good thing. Bonnie J Wallace says behind every successful young actor there's usually at least one parent who supports them, practically and emotionally: driving, paperwork, waiting rooms.

Show them it's your dream, not a passing idea. Bonnie says it has to be teen-led: you should want it more than they want it for you. Agree a plan together, including how school comes first, and point them to our parent's guide to teen actors.

What do you need to become a teen actor?

Bonnie's list: training, a headshot and a resume, and eventually an agent for access to bigger roles. On the paperwork side, you'll usually need a work permit and, in some states, a blocked trust account for part of your earnings; see what a Coogan account is.

Most of all you need persistence. Karen Workman says grit and staying in the game matter more than anything, because opportunities come and go, and you'll hear plenty of no before a yes.

Headshots and a resume at your age

Keep both simple. Kym Jackson explains that young performers face less pressure on their resume, so agents look hard at the work itself. Your resume can list school and community productions, classes and special skills. Karen Workman says almost any skill can help: martial arts, skateboarding, BMX, an instrument, even knitting. One of her daughters booked a union job partly because she could do archery.

Your headshot should look like you now, at your real age. Jess Orcsik says there's no need to spend thousands when you're starting out. Our guide to what to wear for headshots has a section for teens.

Do teens need an agent? And how do I spot a scam?

You'll want one once you want paid work. Karen says agents sign teens who aren't fully ready, because they need people to grow into spots on their roster, and many agencies have agents just for young performers. Kym notes that in LA, young performers usually sign with a youth talent agency. Bonnie's advice is to wait for a good agent rather than grab any agent.

Your parent or guardian should be part of every conversation. As of November 2026, SAG-AFTRA says franchised agents may not charge up-front fees of any kind or make you use a particular school or photographer. The Federal Trade Commission warns about anyone who asks for money to represent you, guarantees work or pressures you to sign fast. Karen's rule: never pay to audition.

How do I balance school and acting?

School stays first. On a set, a studio teacher makes sure schoolwork happens, but auditions are harder: Bonnie points out that missed classes and time learning lines can drag grades down, and poor grades can put a work permit at risk. Tell your agent what kind of work you want, and remember you can say no to an audition.

Work permits are set by each state. In California, as of November 2026, all minors working in entertainment must register for an Entertainment Work Permit, and a parent or guardian sets up the account. Check your own state's labour department.

How do I stay safe online and at auditions?

You don't need a big following to act, Karen and Bonnie told us. Write your own rules for what you post, as Karen suggests, and let a parent follow your accounts, as Bonnie recommends. Karen says studios such as Disney look at teens' social media before hiring, so post nothing that makes you look older or that you wouldn't want a casting director to see.

• Never share your address, school or schedule online, and never send money or bank details. The FTC warns about surprise texts from "talent scouts" offering auditions.
• Go to every audition with a parent or guardian. They wait outside the room, Bonnie says, but they are there.
• Before any party or industry event, agree that your parent is your "out": one call and they come and get you, any time. Karen does this with her own kids.
• If anything in a class or audition makes you uncomfortable, tell a parent straight away. Karen keeps that door open with her own kids.

How do I look after myself?

Bonnie's first rule: your worth as a person has nothing to do with how many jobs you book, and that includes how you feel about your body. Karen says to keep doing normal teen things, like sport and friends, because being well-rounded makes you a better actor. If acting stops being fun, a break is fine.

If you're feeling low, talk to a parent, a school counsellor or a doctor. You don't have to handle it alone.

What do casting directors say to teen actors?

Young actors can come from anywhere, casting director David Newman told us, not only from top agencies, and every show he casts includes people he didn't know before. Gayle Pillsbury said that when she cast young people, the resume barely mattered; they just had to nail the scene. She also wants actors to look their real age, which matters a lot for high school roles.

Kym's advice for young performers: bring yourself to every part instead of hitting beats by numbers, and be someone who is fun to work with.

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