Most actors, even very successful ones, spend time out of work, and they have to work hard finding their next job. It helps to be versatile. Skills such as singing and dancing can make finding work easier. Stunt performers, variety acts, comedians and mime artists are also part of the acting profession. Theatre actors in smaller companies may be involved in administration, staging the performance and liaising with the audience. An actor’s working hours may be long and irregular, and may include evenings and weekends. However, there are strict rules on working hours and rest periods.
