Actors

SOC 27-2011.00Job Zone 2 · Some Preparationv.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers acting practice across live theatre, film, television, and radio contexts from entry-level community and student productions through principal roles in professional and major commercial productions.

Sources:O*NET v30.2 SkillsCrosswalk

Emerging

Entry / Apprentice

Script lines and basic cues — read and memorize under direct guidance during initial rehearsals for a student or community production.
Body movements and facial expressions — practice and apply following instructor direction to portray simple emotional states on a rehearsal stage.
Ensemble participation — follow blocking and timing instructions when collaborating with fellow cast members in a supervised group rehearsal.
Character background information — research and gather basic facts about an assigned role using script notes and director feedback.
Audition monologue — prepare and deliver under coach supervision when attending an entry-level casting call or open audition.
Spoken dialogue — recite clearly and at appropriate volume with speech clarity coaching in a classroom or rehearsal hall setting.
Director notes — receive and apply performance adjustments during note sessions after a rehearsal run-through.
Simple song or movement sequences — learn and reproduce choreography or vocal cues under the direction of a musical or movement coach.
Active listening skills — demonstrate attentiveness to scene partners' cues and responses during guided improv or cold-reading exercises.
Electronic mail software — use to receive call times, script revisions, and production schedules from a stage manager or casting coordinator.

Developing

Mid-level / Established

Rehearsed role interpretation — deliver consistently across multiple run-throughs, adapting pacing and emotional beats with reduced director prompting in a regional or semi-professional production.
Character relationships — analyze and apply understanding of interpersonal dynamics within a script to shape scene work with co-performers in familiar genre contexts.
Physical and vocal expression — integrate gestures, body movement, and speech variation to portray both humorous and serious emotional situations on a live stage or film set.
Script memorization — retain full-length dialogue, stage directions, and cue lines reliably across a standard rehearsal-to-performance timeline for a short film or theatre run.
Ensemble collaboration — coordinate timing, energy, and focus with cast members during scenes, adjusting in real time to routine unexpected changes in performance conditions.
Audition preparation — select, rehearse, and self-direct a suitable audition piece that aligns with a production's tone and casting requirements.
Director and playwright collaboration — engage in constructive discussion to refine role interpretation, offering grounded choices while remaining open to redirection on a professional set.
Singing or dance performance — execute rehearsed vocal or movement numbers at a competent level during comedic or dramatic performances in a community or regional production.
Time management — self-schedule memorization, physical warm-up, and costume fitting appointments to meet production deadlines without supervisor reminders.
Video creation and editing software — use basic features to review recorded rehearsal footage for self-critique and performance improvement.

Proficient

Senior / Expert IC

Role portrayal — develop and sustain a fully realized character using speech, gesture, and movement autonomously across an entire production run on film, television, or a live stage.
Non-routine performance challenges — adapt spontaneously to technical failures, missed cues, or co-performer changes during a live broadcast or opening-night performance.
Character psychology — independently investigate and apply sociological and psychological research to inform nuanced, believable interpretations of complex scripted roles.
Cross-discipline collaboration — lead scene-level creative discussions with directors, playwrights, and fellow actors to arrive at the most effective role interpretation for the production's vision.
Audience engagement — calibrate comedic or dramatic delivery in real time to audience energy, adjusting timing and intensity across varying performance venues and formats.
Multi-format performance — transition skillfully between live theatre, film, television, and radio acting contexts, applying medium-specific vocal and physical techniques.
Advanced memorization — learn and retain large volumes of scripted material, including stunts and technical cues, accurately and on an accelerated production schedule.
Audition strategy — assess casting requirements critically and tailor original performance choices that distinguish the portrayal across competitive professional auditions.
Singing and dance integration — perform complex vocal and choreographic elements as a seamless component of a fully realized dramatic or comedic stage or screen role.
Social perceptiveness — read ensemble dynamics and interpersonal tensions among cast and crew, adjusting collaborative behavior to maintain productive working relationships on set.

Advanced

Lead / Principal / Executive

Performance vision — set artistic direction and interpretive standards for an entire production, guiding ensemble actors toward a cohesive creative outcome at an organizational or company level.
Mentorship of emerging performers — coach and develop less experienced actors in vocal technique, physical expression, and character analysis within a professional training or repertory environment.
Creative collaboration leadership — drive high-level dialogue with directors, writers, and producers to shape the narrative and character arc of a major film, television series, or touring production.
Originality and innovation — originate distinctive performance choices that redefine genre conventions or character archetypes, setting new benchmarks across the entertainment industry.
Career and brand strategy — manage long-term professional positioning, negotiate project selection, and cultivate relationships with casting directors and producers to sustain a principal-level career.
Ensemble culture — cultivate a collaborative, psychologically safe rehearsal environment that enables all cast members to take creative risks in a professional production setting.
Cross-media expertise — leverage deep knowledge of film, television, stage, voice, and digital media platforms to deliver authoritative performances and advise on medium-specific demands.
Public and media communication — represent a production or company as a principal spokesperson in press appearances, interviews, and digital platforms with confidence and strategic messaging.
Adaptability under high stakes — model composure and rapid creative problem-solving during live or broadcast performances, setting the standard for the entire cast under pressure.
Knowledge domain advocacy — champion the integration of fine arts, psychology, and cultural research into actor training programs or production development processes at an institutional level.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic Index Jadhav & Danve, 2026 WEF Skills Taxonomy

A 4-level framework describing how a worker at each mastery level uses, directs, and evaluates AI tools in this occupation. Each statement cites its evidence inline. Subscribe for $19.99/mo to read the full framework — or sign in if you have a subscription.

Emerging
Developing
Proficient
Advanced

Monthly subscription · Stripe-hosted · unlocks AI-at-Work and Pathsmith™ Durable Skills across the full library

Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework

Sources:Pathsmith™ Durable Skills O*NET v30.2

Subscriber feature

Ten durable-skill domains mapped to four proficiency levels for this occupation. Subscribe to unlock the full Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework across all 1,016 occupations.

Monthly subscription · Stripe-hosted · unlocks AI-at-Work and Pathsmith™ Durable Skills across the full library

Show O*NET source anchors47 anchors · skillscrosswalk.com

O*NET enrichment · skillscrosswalk.com

Suggest an O*NET correction

Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles

Actor · Actor Understudy · Actress · Background Actor · Character Artist · Character Performer · Comedian · Comic · Community Theater Actor · Costume Character · Double · Dramatic Reader

RAPIDS apprenticeships

—

O*NET skills

Reading ComprehensionSpeakingSocial PerceptivenessActive ListeningMonitoringCritical ThinkingTime Management

Knowledge domains

Fine ArtsEnglish LanguageCommunications and MediaSociology and AnthropologyPsychologyCustomer and Personal Service

Abilities

Oral ExpressionOral ComprehensionSpeech ClarityWritten ComprehensionMemorizationOriginalityNear VisionProblem SensitivityFluency of IdeasSelective Attention

Work styles

AdaptabilitySelf-ConfidenceInnovationSocial OrientationCooperationOptimism

Technology

Video creation and editing softwareElectronic mail softwareWeb page creation and editing softwareData base user interface and query softwareOperating system softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwarePresentation softwareWord processing softwareInstant messaging software

Tasks · seed anchors for statements

Collaborate with other actors as part of an ensemble.
Portray and interpret roles, using speech, gestures, and body movements, to entertain, inform, or instruct radio, film, television, or live audiences.
Work closely with directors, other actors, and playwrights to find the interpretation most suited to the role.
Perform humorous and serious interpretations of emotions, actions, and situations, using body movements, facial expressions, and gestures.
Study and rehearse roles from scripts to interpret, learn and memorize lines, stunts, and cues as directed.
Learn about characters in scripts and their relationships to each other to develop role interpretations.
Attend auditions and casting calls to audition for roles.
Sing or dance during dramatic or comedic performances.

CIP education codes

50.050150.050650.050750.050950.051150.051250.0599