Toxicity in the Acting Industry

It’s no secret that the acting industry comes along with its own share of toxic traits, environments and people. While it’s not a side of the industry that most people enjoy talking about, it does exist and the more we talk about it, the more we can begin to expose the unhealthy behaviors and habits that co-exist in this business.

What is Toxicity?

A lot of us throw around the word “toxic,” in casual settings and oftentimes, under incorrect pretenses (trust me – I’m guilty of it myself). But “toxic” holds a powerful meaning, and at the root of it is a word that points to unhealthy behaviors, manipulative actions and people that exhibit those same characteristics. Ultimately, it’s a strong word and it shouldn’t be thrown around so freely.

With that said, there are instances where the word SHOULD come into play, as it can perfectly describe a person, place or thing. The acting industry being one of them.

A Toxic Industry

Let me just preface by saying this: I’m an actor and I love being one. I pride myself in the type of work that an actor can do, one that can culminate into a beautiful craft, a solid foundation, a creative lifestyle and sometimes (for those who CHOOSE to see it through all the way), a successful career. 

With that said, being an actor comes with its own challenges and it’s those challenges, the ones that present themselves amidst a tumultuous and unstable industry, that can quickly become toxic.

I’m sorry to say, but it’s the truth.

Now, this doesn’t mean that you can’t still love what you do and continue to pursue it. You can. Two things can be true at once. It’s like your favorite time of the year. Take summer, for example: you can love the season and simultaneously hate those super humid days too (you know… the ones that bring out the absolute worst in us? Yeah, those).

1.      Toxicity between fellow Actors

Toxicity in the acting industry will present itself in different ways. For the sake of this blog post, we’ll focus on three.

As actors, we are in constant competition with other actors. Let’s face it, for every casting notice you submit to, there was probably hundreds of other applications alongside yours. For every audition, there is likely thirty-some other actors who got called in to audition too. For every petite, brunette, youthful looking Latina role, there are other actresses in the room who will look EXACTLY like me.

You are constantly being pinned against others who play to your same actor type. It’s a hidden rivalry and as much positivity we want to emulate… as much comradery we want to encourage… at the end of the day, your job is to win the role. Sure, you can be happy for others who win it instead of you but let’s be real, you’d probably be happier if you were the actor who booked it in the first place.

This is NOT bad to admit. You’re there to get a job. To win an opportunity at employment. It’s like going in for any other kind of job: after a rejection email, you’re likely not basking in the joy of someone else’s job offer. Instead, you’re likely engulfed in frustration and wondering when that next job interview will roll around. This is human nature.

The only difference between acting and non-acting jobs however, is that typically once you DO find work (outside of acting), you don’t need to go looking for more (unless you want or need to).

This is all to say that actors are CONSTANTLY looking for work. Even if you DO book a role, you’ll eventually need to find more work (because our contracts are always temporary to begin with).

It’s a cycle that never ends and it’s certainly not normal. Sure, you can love the art form so much that you’re willing to put these “negatives” aside, but nonetheless… it’s not normal.

This push and pull puts you in constant competition with others and the rivalry can promote toxicity.

Navigating different personalities

Theater, musical theater, and the acting industry in general comes with its own community of people. I’m incredibly fortunate to have crossed paths with some of THE most wonderful artists and supporting peers. I rarely come across negative people in the industry and I hold a lot of gratitude for this.

Not everyone’s experience is the same, however.

Depending on what niche of acting you’re in, you might come across different personalities, those of which might not necessarily mesh well with yours. I often hear this is the case in musical theater where folks tend to be more animated, energetically intense and competitive. It’s also a craft that involves triple-threat talents.

Acting is competitive as is. Now, when you add singing and dancing, there’s suddenly more layers to the competition: who can sing the higher note, who can do a triple pirouette, who has the better vocal coach, who has the most Broadway auditions, etc. Adding more layers to your craft will inevitably create competition among actors, resulting in a heavily overstimulating and toxic environment.

While musical theater is only one example, the truth is you will find different personalities in every corner of the acting industry. This can look different for all of us: a passive-aggressive acting coach, a castmate you don’t get along with or transparently speaking, a very rude or fake person in the industry.

2.      Toxicity and the Art of Acting

Our job as actors is to portray the emotional compass and circumstantial context of somebody else’s life. It’s a beautiful art form that I’ve loved for a long time and I celebrate the actors that delve deep into their craft in order to bring these stories to life.

With that said, the art of acting can also feel like psychological warfare. Essentially, your own emotions will always come at the cost of an acting project. Essentially, we have to manipulate our own emotions in order to elicit another emotional response (for ourselves as the performer and for others, as audience members).

3.      Toxicity and the Business

Being an actor means being at someone’s constant beck and call. Face it, it’s either a last-minute audition that requires 3-7 pages of lines to memorize (usually a night or two before), a late call sheet, a last-minute change in the script, a schedule hold or a combination of all of the following. As actors, everything feels urgent and everything feels last minute. All. The time.

Yes, it’s a business and that’s how it operates. I’ve accepted it and most actors have too. It’s the reason why we continue on and deal with it. But once again, two things can be true at once: you can accept it for what it is but you don’t have to love it. You can agree to it, but you can also call it for what it is: an unhealthy structure.

A lot of actors will put their lives on hold for an unstable industry that can make no promises in return. The best example that I can give from a personal standpoint is pursuing a linear career, with full time hours. In the past, I’ve made the choice to maintain a very flexible work schedule in order to make myself available (for auditions and potential bookings… that never came).

As actors, we are constantly putting in effort, with very little in return. We make ourselves available at the cost of other passions and endeavors we might be forced to cast aside. It makes us prisoners to a certain structure and whether we like to admit it or not, we surrender to a toxic construct, one that constitutes unrealistic expectations and emotional manipulation.

Dealing with Toxicity in the Acting Industry

So. How DO we deal with toxicity in the acting industry? Unfortunately, there’s not one solid answer or finite response to this overarching challenge but I will say that staying true to yourself, staying in your own lane and staying FOCUSED on your end goal is a great start.

The Art of Staying

Staying true to ourselves is so important. It encourages authenticity and it’s that authentic energy that will help you stand out. Let’s also not forget that being a genuine, honest, transparent and overall GOOD person is a great thing… in any industry… and in any part of life. Strive to be the person that people WANT to be around… and keep your eyes peeled for those that others run away from.  

Staying in your own lane quiets the noise. It lessens distractions and helps us avoid drama. We’re already in an industry where drama takes center stage (quite literally). The last thing we need is to add more of it, to our everyday lives.

Staying focused reminds us WHY we choose this art form in the first place. There’s a moment that defined our artistic upbringing and catapulted us into a creative life. Remember that moment, and go back to as much as you need to.

Wherever you are in your acting journey: you got this!