What Other Professions Are Stage Actors Good At?

Stage actors are known for their ability to transform into different characters, evoke powerful emotions, and captivate audiences with their performances. However, their skills and talents extend far beyond the stage. Due to their creativity, discipline, and adaptability, stage actors excel in various other professions that might seem unrelated to acting at first glance.

1. Public Speaking and Motivational Speaking

Stage actors are often exceptional public speakers due to their comfort in front of an audience. Their experience on stage has taught them how to engage, entertain, and connect with people, which makes them excellent candidates for careers in public speaking or motivational speaking. Many actors use their platform to inspire others, share their personal stories, or discuss social issues.

Actors also have an innate understanding of how to modulate their voice, posture, and gestures to capture the audience’s attention. These skills come in handy when delivering speeches that require a mix of storytelling, charisma, and inspiration. For example, actors like Sheryl Lee Ralph and Matthew McConaughey have used their public speaking abilities to motivate others, share life lessons, and influence change.

2. Poker or Card Playing

One of the most unexpected but logical professions for a stage actor is poker playing. While it might not immediately come to mind, the skills needed for acting translate quite well to card games, especially poker. Poker is a game of psychology as much as it is about strategy, and actors possess a unique set of abilities that make them great at bluffing and reading others.

Stage actors are masters of controlling their facial expressions and body language. Their ability to maintain a “poker face”—the ability to conceal emotions and intentions through subtle, deliberate expressions—gives them an advantage in poker games. The actor’s skill in managing emotional expression can be the difference between giving away a strong hand or keeping opponents guessing. While actors may have advanced bluffing skills, there are still aspects of card games like poker to learn before jumping into high-stakes tournaments.

Actors will need to familiarize themselves with the rules and basic strategies. The best way to practice is usually by playing poker at online casinos from home. The best casino sites in Australia offer a wide variety of games, including poker variants and even tournaments, so actors can easily hone their skills before sitting at a physical table across from real opponents.

Furthermore, the discipline and focus that stage actors develop during rehearsals also help them stay composed in high-stakes situations like poker tournaments. Just as actors must stay calm and focused under pressure, poker players need to maintain their composure while making strategic decisions. Several actors, including Ben Affleck, have already tried their hand at professional poker, demonstrating how the skill set of stage actors can work in this surprising field.

3. Teaching and Drama Instruction

One of the most common career paths for stage actors after their time on stage is teaching. Whether it’s teaching drama in schools or offering private lessons, actors make excellent drama instructors. Their ability to convey complex emotions and ideas in a clear and engaging way is directly transferable to the classroom setting.

Stage actors understand the importance of storytelling, creativity, and improvisation, all of which are crucial in developing young minds and nurturing new talent. They can break down scenes, explain character development, and guide students through complex scripts. Their natural ability to communicate emotions effectively also helps students express themselves more freely and confidently.

Teaching is a popular way for actors to support themselves in between roles. The average base salary of a drama teacher in Australia is $63,844.

4. Writing and Playwriting

Given their expertise in storytelling, it’s no surprise that many stage actors are also talented writers, particularly in the realm of playwriting, screenwriting, or creative writing. Stage actors are trained to think deeply about characters, narratives, and dialogue, which gives them the perfect foundation for crafting compelling stories of their own.

Writing requires an understanding of pacing, structure, and tension—skills that are second nature to an actor who has spent years dissecting scripts. Additionally, actors often draw inspiration from their own experiences on stage, channelling the emotional range and insights they’ve gathered into their writing. Many famous playwrights, such as Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller, were also accomplished actors and modern actors like Stephen Fry and Emma Thompson have become prolific writers and screenwriters.

5. Choreography and Dance

Choreography is another area where stage actors, particularly those trained in musical theatre, can excel. Actors who have experience in dance, movement, and stage direction often transition seamlessly into roles as choreographers. Their understanding of how to tell a story through movement, combined with their experience in collaborating with other artists, makes them highly qualified to create dynamic and impactful dance sequences.

In musical theatre, choreography is crucial to telling the story, and actors are often directly involved in shaping the movement sequences. This experience equips them with the skills needed to work as choreographers for other types of productions, whether on stage or in film and television. For instance, stage actors who are proficient dancers may choose to work as choreographers for music videos or commercial productions, where their eye for movement and storytelling can be utilized.

6. Voice Acting and Audio Production

Voice acting is another profession that stage actors often excel in. Whether it’s lending their voice to animated characters, video games, or audiobooks, actors can use their vocal talents in new ways. Their training in speech, projection, and enunciation makes them well-suited for voice roles that require them to create distinct characters using only their voices.

Stage actors understand the importance of vocal dynamics and character differentiation, two elements essential to successful voice acting. The emotional depth they bring to their stage performances is translated into their voice work, making the characters they portray more engaging and believable.