Australia’s acting industry has a reputation for helping actors launch their careers at a young age, with TV shows such as Heartbreak High, Home and Away, and Nowhere Boys finding fame for their stars.
Queensland teenager Kayden Price landed a role on the Prime Video show Nautilus after auditioning against 3,000 other young hopefuls when the show filmed near his hometown on the Gold Coast, and Sydney-based Catherine Laga’aia is set to play Moana in a live-action version of the Disney movie, due in 2026, alongside Dwayne Johnson.
Becoming an actor as a teenager is a chance to get ahead on making connections, building experience through auditioning, and working in film, TV, and theatre — as well as making some money along the way.
But how do you get started as a teenage actor and land opportunities to audition for professional gigs? Read on to find out what it takes.
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Young people can start acting from any age, even if they don’t have prior experience or training. But things vary a little by age.
Ages 13 to 15
Teen actors in this age range make ideal casting choices for adolescent or even child roles. They are more independent than younger children, and they can handle longer working hours and more complex roles. They still need to be supervised on set by either a guardian or chaperone, however, and employers need a permit to hire them.
Ages 16 and up
By this age, teen actors can look at joining a youth or community theatre and applying for future actor training programs. There are organisations and institutions that run courses and offer performing opportunities geared toward older teens, such as The National Drama School, 16th Street, and Q Theatre. They are often cast as younger characters, but they can also start auditioning for young adult roles in TV shows, commercials, and films.
A teenager needs to genuinely enjoy acting and at least begin to understand why they want to do it. They need to be prepared to work for it, have patience, and know how to take rejection. It’s also important that they have family support to handle the practical and emotional aspects of an acting career, and that it doesn’t interfere with things like school and friendships.
With the right approach, acting can help build important life skills, such as resilience and confidence, that stretch well beyond teenage acting ambitions.
If you are a parent or caregiver of an aspiring teen actor, you need to be aware that it can be quite a commitment, from travelling and making time for in-person auditions, acting classes, and long days of filming to helping your teen with filming self-tapes, updating profiles on casting platforms, liaising with agents and casting directors, and balancing other priorities such as school and their well-being.
Here are some ways to begin acting if you’re just starting out.
Amateur drama and community theatre
One great place to start honing your acting skills is in your local community. Join an amateur drama group or community theatre and get involved in school plays and holiday programmes.
It’s a fun way to discover multiple aspects of acting, from learning scripts and taking direction to getting comfortable performing in front of a live audience and receiving constructive criticism. If you’re lucky, you’ll also learn about the wider ecosystem, understanding where actors fit into a cast and crew.
Casting agents and directors sometimes keep a close eye on local drama clubs, coming to their performances to scout new talent.
Training
Actors of all ages continually invest in acting training, whether through short or full-time courses, workshops, or even private coaching.
In Australia, drama schools are higher-education institutions that require their applicants to be over 16, but you can also look at youth theatre groups such as the Australian Theatre for Young People. A number of acting schools run courses specifically for young people, including Brave Studios, NIDA Open, and Screen Actors.
The courses can be intensive. They can require time and physical, emotional, and mental endurance, and there are expectations from the tutor for how to prepare, learn, and respond to feedback. They also provide a valuable learning experience, and they’re a great way for young people to build connections with fellow teen actors and develop other important social skills, such as public speaking and listening.
Build your actor’s toolkit
Create a professional acting CV and a profile on casting websites that casting directors, agents, and other industry professionals can view. Make sure you keep it updated as you mature each year and gain more experience and skills
It will need to include professional headshots and a showreel, as well as a list of your acting credits, training, experience, and skills such as accents, sports, or instruments. (If you don’t have any official credits yet, your showreel can be a self-tape of you performing monologues.)
Get an agent
Focus on finding an acting agency or talent agency with a strong reputation and experience in managing successful teenage actors. Research the production companies, TV shows, movies, and brands an agency has previously worked with before applying.
While you search for an agent – and even after signing with one – don’t wait to start building some solid acting experience, which can put you ahead of other young actors who may have none.
Apply for casting calls
Open casting calls can be a great way for teen actors to get their foot in the door. In addition to searching listings on jobs boards, follow production houses and casting directors on social media in case they post castings. Australian casting directors worth following include Barrett Casting, McGregor Casting, Mullinars, and Ben Parkinson Casting.
Seek out commercials and background work
Bit parts and work as part of an ensemble of extras in commercials and TV and film projects are a great way to break into the industry. They can help provide valuable experience being on camera and on set.
Say yes to local opportunities
Check the websites and social media pages of local youth and community theatres, bookmark any upcoming productions, and audition to take part. Contact local film schools too. They’re often casting student projects.
Consider working for free or for little payment in indie or student films to get going. Credits for your CV and showreel are just as valuable when you’re starting out.
Whichever opportunities you pursue or consider, make sure you research and check that listings are reputable. Check online reviews and trust your gut if something doesn’t seem quite right.
Regardless of your age, the auditioning process typically begins with a self-tape, which can be filmed at home on a phone or in a studio.
It may be less nerve-racking than standing in front of a panel, but you’ll still want to be prepared: Know your lines, rehearse, and make choices around how to perform your character and piece in advance. You’ll also want to show you can be flexible and take direction if a casting director asks you to do something different. Most importantly, do your best and enjoy it.
Acting is a tough industry – one that demands dedication, perseverance, and passion. Be aware that it can take time to land a role. You will need to keep practising and attending auditions, and get comfortable with rejection and constructive criticism.
Regardless of whether you continue to pursue acting beyond your teen years, it’s a great way to develop confidence and skills in performing, communication, collaboration, and creativity – all of which can come in handy elsewhere further down the line.