Acting, like any art form, requires a lot of practice to master. You can build experience by acting in school plays or local community theater productions. Many community theaters also offer acting lessons and workshops where you can hone your skills. If you want to be a movie star, you may also want to consider attending one of the top drama schools, such as the Yale School of Drama, considered by many in the acting world to be the best of the best. An impressive list of movie stars got their start at Yale, including Meryl Streep, Jodie Foster and Paul Newman.
Maybe school's not your thing and you'd like to just jump right into the business. In this case, you'll need a good set of professional headshots before you start auditioning. A headshot is an 8-inch by 10-inch photograph taken from the shoulders up. Submit your headshot to casting agencies and bring one along with you on every audition. You want to make sure your headshot looks as much like the real you as possible, so you should update your photo at least once a year or as your appearance changes.
Once you have a headshot, you can start looking for an agent or a manager. An agent and/or manager will help promote your career by using their contacts and connections within the industry. They help you find auditions and recommend you for roles. To start with, you should try out for student or independent films. Anything that gets you some screen time will help you gain experience, and you just might find yourself in one of those breakout indie hits.
Becoming a movie star takes more than just time and effort: it also takes a serious financial investment. The cost of headshots and agent or manager fees will take a bite out of your paycheck, however that's just the beginning. Attending one of the top-notch drama schools such as Yale can cost more than $100,000, and financial aid only pays a portion of that. In addition, most film and television roles require you to be a member of the Screen Actors Guild, which costs thousands to join, plus an annual payment.
It's important to remember that success probably won't happen overnight, and working a second job to make ends meet will likely be a reality for some time. It may take years of dealing with rejection and criticism before you'll be able to make a living as an actor. The reality is that only a handful of people become full-fledged movie stars. The magic ingredient is luck, and while luck is something you can't prepare for, if you persevere and remain dedicated to your dream, you have a better chance of success.