You're in the midst of pondering your career and you're making sure everyone knows that you want to be a star, a celeb - think of the fame and the fortune, fabulous dahling! But have you really thought fully about how you're going to do this, and if you honestly want to be a known celebrity who has paparazzi follow her every single day, without fail, even when you're having your absolute worst day of your life?

A small selection, even a miniscule fraction of people, are actually sought out to be a famous actor, dancer or singer. You need to realize first what your motivation is for wanting this so badly. Fortune can be found more easily in many other industries where you are the success, not the company that might be promoting you. Can you really see yourself working 20 hours a day if the right job comes up, and those 20 hours are made up of waiting around, but you still have to look god-damned good all the time?

Okay, so I've asked the general questions. Now I'd like you to read on:


Hard at Work - Always
When you have secured your 'dream' role, are you fully prepared? I mean, can you honestly say that you genuinely want to be the center of attention ALL the time? This is what the Ashton Kutcher's and Mischa Barton's of this world wanted and that's why they're happy flaunting it whenever needed. They know how to look good all of the time, even when they're wearing their scrubbiest clothing. Think about going to the gym and looking perfect whilst you're on the running machine, it's not that easy and this is what it's all about. You can be made to look spectacular in the next potential 'Friends' series, but you have to work at that and that means working all of the time. Those four hours you take off next week might have to be dedicated to the appointment that was made for you to see your nutritionalist.

A Valuable Business
You need to realize that you can't pass yourself off being some other celeb. You will be far more likely to succeed if you're not a carbon copy of Lindsay Lohan or Scarlett Johansson - find your own being, tell people what you're all about and be confident (but not much of an ass) doing it. Find similarities and differences between you and artists that are in the same field, and take honest opinions from people about how alike or not you are. You should be able to find from this a 'you' that is unique, and not a doppelganger of some already-famous person. You will stand yourself in good stead if you have that great distance between you and the next person. Finally on this note, don't try to be someone you're not.

Professionalism - All the Way
You aren't going to win over people, and potential fans, by treating them all as something you've stood in. Equally you must not be naive, but be friendly and approachable. If you leave yourself shut off, your potential fans and colleagues are going to be put off before they've met you. Remember that these people like to think they know a little bit about you, so even just being a little mysterious will ensure that you are interesting to people - closing people out will eventually lead to demise - read: very little fame and even less fortune. See it this way "make friends not enemies" and you have the right idea!

Your Styling
A final section in this piece, your styling is 'tres importante'. Make sure that you look good all over, ensuring that you are remembered by most. Dress to impress, or dress for whom (not what) you are, is a very good tip indeed. Once you have mastered it, you are already a little star.

Taking in all these tips certainly won't guarantee you success but this is what you're aiming for. If you can't keep up with the daily grind of making yourself appear perfect, even with your flaws (we all think we have them) then you aren't cut out for being famous. If you can't appear perfect but have the feelings of a lead balloon then you're likely to succeed until it grinds you down - basically, I don't want to be harsh but only you know if you have the right qualities. If you seriously are up for this, then you need to have read this piece twice over and understand that this industry may be very harsh to you. And when you've decided on a definite trade, then it can be extremely rewarding beyond any reasonable doubt!

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Aimee Mitchell is an acting coach, short story author, community theater director and playwright. She has spent the better part of her adult life working with young actors and actresses.

Copyright © Aimee Mitchell. All rights reserved. Used with permission of the author. Not to be reproduced or distributed.

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