Career profile · Creative
Actor
Career summary
An actor plays a character so that an audience believes the story. You might be in a TV soapie, a film, a stage play, a radio drama, a TV advert or a voice-over. The work is learning lines, rehearsing with other actors and a director, and then performing, often many times, until it feels real.
Most actors in South Africa work freelance. That means you are hired for one job at a time, such as a few shoot days, one season of a series or one run of a play. When that job ends, there may be no paid work until the next one.
You do not need a licence to act, and no law says you must study first. But most working actors train, often through a drama diploma or degree, which teaches voice, movement, acting for camera and stage, and how the industry works. An agent helps you find auditions. Talent matters, but so do discipline, reliability and a thick skin.
A Day in the Life
There is no normal week. A shoot day on a TV series looks very different from a night in the theatre.
04:00
Early call on a soapie — On busy TV soapies, very early call times are common. You arrive at the set or a pick-up point at your call time, with your lines already learnt.
Hair, make-up and wardrobe — Before you shoot, you get into costume and make-up so your character looks the same as in the last scene. Then you wait until your scene is called.
Shooting scenes — Scenes are filmed out of story order and repeated from different angles. You must give the same performance, with the same feeling, each time the camera rolls.
A long standard day — Casting-agency guidelines (OSCASA, 2016) for extras and walk-on roles treat 12 hours in a row as a standard day, with overtime after that. They are guidelines, not law. Shoots can run past midnight.
Self-tapes and auditions — On days off set you prepare auditions. Many castings now ask for a self-tape: you learn the scene, then film it at home with a phone, a tripod and good light, and send it in.
Theatre night — In a play you rehearse for weeks, then perform the same show night after night, often with weekend shows too. Plays may tour to other cities or arts festivals.
No steady work — Work comes and goes, because most actors are hired for one job at a time.
Choose this career if…
- You push through when it gets hard
- You are fine working nights, weekends and public holidays
- You cope well when the plan changes
- You do what you said you would do
- You can work without someone checking on you
- You read and write well in English
Salary
You are usually a freelancer
Most actors are independent contractors, not employees. That usually means no UIF, no paid leave and no employer paying your tax. Freelancers who earn this way are generally provisional taxpayers who pay SARS themselves. A 2026 notice proposes treating performers as employees under some labour laws, such as minimum wage and leave, but it is not final.
Mathematics or Maths Literacy?
Worth knowingGrade 10 and 11 · still reversible
You take Mathematics
- Every study route on this page stays open.
- You keep more options open if you later switch to a field that needs Mathematics.
- Useful for managing freelance income, invoices and tax.
You take Mathematical Literacy
- The performing arts diploma and film arts degree on this page do not ask for Mathematics in their entry rules.
- Some private film and performance schools say they need no specific subjects.
- Always check the exact course you want, because rules differ between institutions.
Best School Subjects
Essential
- English · Actors work from scripts. Some drama courses set an English mark; some accept either Home or First Additional Language.
Strongly recommended
- Dramatic Arts · Trains voice, body and acting, and covers SA and world theatre. Not required to study drama.
Also useful
- Music · Musical theatre auditions usually ask you to sing a song.
- Dance Studies · Callbacks for musicals and some drama courses include movement or dance.
Alternative careers
Related careers. Each has its own entry requirements — check every one separately.
Influencer
Performs to camera for your own online audience and brand deals.
Career Ladder
- Background artiste · No qualification needed
- Featured extra · No qualification needed
- Bit-part or walk-on actor · Drama training helps
- Supporting actor · Drama diploma or degree common
- Lead actor · Experience and screen credits
Last reviewed October 2026. We work hard to keep this information accurate, but details can change — always verify before making a career decision. Tell us something is out of date.
