Types of Acting Roles in Film and TV

As auditioning actors, it’s important to understand the different types of acting roles that exist in the entertainment industry. For one, you want to familiarize yourself with the type of work you might be going out for, for the simple fact that each role will require a different skill set and the ability to adjust the way in which you perform it.

Different Mediums in Acting

Acting exists in different mediums and it’s those mediums that bridge together the types of actors that can properly execute a given story and emotional range.

For example, a stage actor might need to amplify their body movements, their facial expressions and the entirety of their vocal compass (like diction and projection) in order to reach a larger audience, including theater-goers who might be sitting farther away from them.  

Film and television actors however, perform in a much more intimate space: in front of a camera. What audiences experience in film and television is a close depiction of an actor on a screen, as opposed to a moving character on a stage (one that can often appear small depending on how far away you happen to be sitting from them).

As screen actors, your body movements, the tonality of your voice and your overall mannerisms should be much more understated and subtly executed. There’s a certain skill set that comes with acting: the ability to adjust and adapt a performing technique to best fit the type of role you are portraying.

Being an Aware Actor

When it comes to film and tv, there’s a subtly that comes with acting but there are different types of acting roles that pertain to both categories.

As actors, our job is to portray another character. This much has always been true, but it’s also important to understand the type of acting role you’re taking on in order to adjust, adapt and appropriately convey a given message. For example, if you’re hired as a background actor, you’ll want to maintain subtle reactions, gestures and movements (not only because you’re acting for the camera), but ALSO for the simple fact that your role is not the primary focus.

Understanding how your role fits into the story will allow you to make better choices and arrive at more appropriate conclusions.  

Types of Acting Roles in TV

Acting roles exist in a sort of tier system, if you so will. Let’s talk about what this look like, in TV specifically.

Series Regular – this refers to a leading character and/or a leading actor in a television show, series or sitcom. Series Regulars are hired on a long-term basis, contributing to every episode of a television season (unless otherwise specified). Examples include: Lorelai and Rory in Gilmore Girls (Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel), Randall Pearson in This is Us (Sterling K. Brown), Alex Russo in Wizards of Waverly Place (Selena Gomez), Miley Cyrus in Hannah Montana or any of the six leading actors in Friends (Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc and Matthew Perry). There can be multiple Series Regulars in any given television show, series or sitcom.

Recurring – this refers to temporary characters who are hired on a long-term basis. This simply means that an actor is hired to reappear periodically throughout a televised season, but not on a continuous schedule. Recurring roles are highly desired and contribute significantly to the plot of a story. They are important characters but not large enough to be considered Series Regulars. Examples include Gunther in Friends (James Michael Tyler), Steve in Full House (Scott Weinger) and Jake Ryan in Hannah Montana (Cody Linley). There can be multiple Recurring roles in a television show, series or sitcom.

Guest Star – this refers to a character that contributes to the plot of an episode or a season but their role is not large enough to be considered Recurring, or small enough to be considered a Co-star (more on this below). An example of a Guest Star role might be the detective that comes back from time to time in an effort to reveal an overarching secret.

Co-Star – refers to a character that is featured in one episode of a television show. Co-Stars are also considered “Day Players” since they are hired for one (or two days) at most.

Co-Stars are usually given to up and coming or unknown actors as they tend to be smaller roles that are used to enhance a scene. Co-Star roles are fantastic credits to have under your belt, especially when you are building your acting resume. Examples include: the waitress serving you coffee at a diner. They might appear in a scene where the lawyers of a true crime show (aka, the Series Regulars) are talking about how to move forward in their case. The waitress might be featured serving you coffee and giving you questionable looks, but ultimately, the scene is not about her.

As I mentioned earlier, it’s important to understand what type of role you have so you don’t overdo (or in some cases, underdo) your job as an actor. Understanding your role as a Co-Star is a great example, as it shows how sometimes, your job requires you to enhance someone else’s moment or scene. It’s about understanding when the focus is on you… and when it simply isn’t.

Other examples of co-starring characters include: the babysitter, the police officer you run into, the neighbor whose door you knock on, etc.  If a Co-Star role is performed by a famous actor, this will now become a:

Cameo – this refers to any role played by a famous actor or recognizable name in the acting industry. You know those tv episodes where a celebrity enters a scene and the audience claps for a long time? Yeah. That’s basically what this is.

Extras / Background – as the name suggests, this refers to an actor who is hired to fill a scene in the (you guessed it) background. They typically have no lines and are not considered to be the focus, by any means. Instead, they are used to fill a room, giving the scene a more realistic vibe. Examples include: patrons in a grocery store, pedestrians walking on the street and travelers in an airport. Background actors are significant to the overall aesthetic of a given ambiance.

Types of Acting Roles in Film

When it comes to film, the gist is pretty much the same but the names for each role differ, slightly. Let’s talk about it.

Lead – this refers to the main character of a feature film or movie. The reason we don’t refer to it as a Series Regular is because a movie is not a television series. Examples include: Jack Dawson in Titanic (Leonardo DiCaprio), Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz (Judy Garland) and Daniel Radcliffe in Harry Potter.

Supporting – this refers to a secondary character or actor in a feature film or movie. Supporting characters are just that: characters who support or enhance the trajectory of a leading character’s arc and/or the overall message of the film. While Supporting actors are granted fewer lines and on-screen time, they are significant to the plot of a movie and to some, might even be considered smaller versions of a Leading character. Examples include: Mrs. Weasley in Harry Potter (Julie Walters), Mr. Bender in The Breakfast Club (Judd Nelson) and Scotty Landry in Reminders of Him (Rudy Pankow).

Day Player – this refers to an actor who is hired to play a smaller role, usually one that films for (you guessed it again) a day. They are smaller characters intended to enhance a scene (again, a waitress serving you a cup of coffee, a cashier checking your items out, a doctor delivering news, or a teacher that you meet for parent-teacher conference). 

Extras – this refers to any actor hired to be in the background.

Additionally, actors might be hired as Stand Ins or Body/Stunt Doubles. This refers to an actor that aesthetically looks similar to another actor in a leading role. Stand Ins or Body/Stunt Doubles are hired for high stake scenes that require specialized training or moments where the leading actor might simply need to step out. When filming, these roles are typically framed farther out so we don’t actually see the stunt doubles face. The purpose of the role is to give the illusion that the leading actor is the one who is standing there in the first place.

There are no Small Parts, only Small Actors

As difficult as this industry may be, actors do have a wide range of options when it comes to booking a given role. Regardless what the size of these roles are or what medium you’re performing them for, the -simple fact of booking a gig is something to be celebrated.

So, for those who have recently booked or are in hopes of booking something soon – keep going. I’m cheering you on from afar!

Remember…

“there are no small parts, only small actors.”