Actor career

Kiriwhakaari

Actors play roles in movies, television, audio and live theatrical performances.

Actors play roles in movies, television, audio and live theatrical performances.

What would you do as an Actor?

Actors

  • usually work irregular hours, including evenings and weekends
  • usually work in theatres, studios and on film and television sets, and may travel nationally or internationally
  • may do physically demanding work
  • need to be creative, communicate well and work well in a team

Tasks

  • work with others to perform artistic productions
  • perform live in public
  • learn lines, characters and movements
  • audition for roles
  • conduct research for roles
  • study scripts
  • rehearse with other actors
  • take notes from directors and other professionals
  • promote products, activities and organisations

How can you become an Actor?

You usually need to do training to become an actor and a qualification may be useful.

You may need

  • an advanced diploma in drama and theatre
  • a bachelor's degrees in drama and theatre
  • to complete The Actors' Program course
  • experience in similar work

If you're in school

You usually need NCEA Level 3 or University Entrance to do the study or training for this job.

Qualifications

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Study a Theatre Studies major in our Bachelor of Arts, where you'll develop your performance practice through a practice-led approach. You'll rehearse and perform in our theatre laboratory and the Playhouse Theatre at the Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts, which hosts many public performances. Like all our undergraduate degrees, it includes work-integrated learning.

To take your practice further, you can continue with our Master of Arts in Theatre Studies.

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Actor FAQs

Scholarships

A range of scholarships are available to help with the cost of studying at Waikato. Options are available across a wide range of subjects and study levels, including scholarships for new students, current students and specific areas of study.

Find a scholarship

QS rankings

QS World University Rankings 2027

Waikato is ranked equal 293rd globally, placing us in the top 1.5% of universities worldwide, and 2nd in New Zealand by citations per faculty.

QS Sustainability Ranking 2026

Waikato is ranked 116th globally for sustainability, including 34th worldwide and 1st in NZ for Environmental Sustainability.

Contact us

School of Arts

School of Arts, The University of Waikato, Ground Floor, J Block, Gate 1, Knighton Road, Hamilton

International Enquiries

Monday to Friday 8:30am - 5pm