ACTOR PERSONAS: THE GLAMOUROUS STAR, THE WORKING ACTOR, AND THE BOHEMIAN MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTIST

The difference between actors and stars lies in the level of attention given to them in terms of critical reception, marketing, and promotion but also in the level of remuneration they receive. It's easy to grasp the idea that stars are not only a category of labor but as well a form of capital, constituting a significant investment. The bohemian artist, on the other hand, is most distinctive from the other two by their approach to film and theatre projects as a form of art, apparently not at all ( or very little ) related to financial gains. Many name stars as well have later on in their careers accepted work in low-budget, independent, and art-house or cult movies in addition to big-budget studio blockbusters in order to satisfy creative as well as commercial ambitions. But generally, a star's involvement with more creative, innovative low-budget 'Indies' is likely to reduce their overall box-office record, creating higher levels of unevenness.

Stars are also embodiments of the social categories in which people are placed: class, gender, race and ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation, and so on. Journalists of the cinema are definitely more interested in the stars than they are in films, and their audiences sometimes prefer the gossip and lifestyle events to the artistic side of the productions and even acting skills. The fascination with a star's image is probably the most seductive method that narrative cinemas have developed in order to catch and blind their audience.

During the pandemic, on my online coaching sessions with actors just starting off, I have noticed very clearly their tendency towards one or other of these personas or identities: those who choose this path because they want to shine, those who think of themselves as artists and those who don't hold on to their egos and 'just wanna do a good job to represent the character they are creating ' .. I've had the 'Divas' type, who expected to show up and look mesmerising and book jobs just for looking in a certain way or expecting the effort they need to put in should be inversely proportional with their physical attributes, as well as naturally glamorous persons whose charm and magnetism were so striking that they would effortlessly seduce an audience just by being themselves, totally free and unrehearsed ; and also the type of artists that would never compromise into anything commercial and wouldn't commit to doing anything ' without any soul in it ', who would have probably continued doing the same thing irrespective of if an audience is watching or not and would put their personal evolution through art on their top priorities.

Few actors have the vision or discipline of an ' Working Actor' when starting out, this attitude generally develops over time. Most of the working actors are just acting consistently and are one hundred percent committed and embrace a sort of lifetime dedication to their craft. They believe in persistence and consistency and long term goals and develop their patience in 'staying with it ' for years before they have any recognition or financial gains, putting in the 10.000 hours and getting from it the strength to continue after the 500th 'failed' audition and learn to master dealing with rejection and embrace it as part of the game. They are aware of the fact that the reality is that only 2% of the actors 'make it' professionally, and are constantly hustling new roles and fighting for their chance to be part of the lucky percentage. Luck plays a big part as well, but only at the right moment when the set and setting are favorable. We see interviews with actors like Mark Ruffalo or Tom Hiddleston and many others who speak openly about the constant rejection they have faced in their first years after graduating and it is liberating for actors just starting out to understand this is the normality of the process.

But actors who focus excessively on building a career, especially after lending an agent and starting actively auditioning, while trying to make a living out of their passion - might forget why they started acting in the first place and lose the real initial enthusiasm and pure love for playing, ingenuity, passion, and relaxation. They may even become overly serious or even bitter and too ambitious.

I myself can relate to periods of my career when I have, consciously or not, related to one form more than the other, and I can say that having a tendency to experiment with different identities, both in acting and off-stage, I have tried wearing all of the hats and doing everything. Many actors though follow just one and become very consistent with their choices. Their life might be simpler and happier, but it doesn't mean they don't go through the same struggles every day.

Set and setting are also very important. As well as the physical or online collective platforms on which the actors are active. Each type has a very different mentality and approach to acting: for example, the actors I see at BAFTA or BFI are definitely different artists from those I see in poetry shows, performance art events, or workshops. On WeAudion, Zoom, or other online platforms, I see a lot of working actors, and their main target is booking acting jobs, while for example in the Artist's Way course, I'm helping moderate - where many of the facilitators are Visionary Artists, painters, and musicians - I meet many artists approaching acting from a totally different perspective - they might consider acting as a form of expression amongst others, more like a soul driven purpose and less as an actual career.

There are as well out there brilliant and accomplished actors (and not only ) who are struggling when their work of a different nature is received quite poorly just because the audience can't generally stretch enough to give this individual the ability to express herself in a different field than the one they have gained recognition for: see Anthony Hopkins as a painter and composer, Ethan Hawk as a writer, Jim Jarmusch as a musician etc.

At the end of the day, it's a blessing and luxury that we can choose which type of artists we want to be and commit to our ideals!

Hope you all follow your unique path !

Delia