The right actor can make a story, message, or campaign feel authentic and engaging. When the goal is to inform, entertain, persuade, or build an emotional connection with an audience, strong casting can have a significant impact on how effectively the finished content communicates its message.
What does an actor do?
An actor interprets characters, scripts, and brand messages through performance. The work can span multiple formats, from commercials and films to corporate videos, elearning content, and live events. Actors may specialize in on-camera, voice, stage, or other types of performance, making it important to match their experience and skills to the project's format, audience, and creative direction.
Typical responsibilities for actors include:
- Performing on camera for commercials, films, social media content, product demonstrations, and corporate videos
- Providing voice-over work for audiobook narration, ads, animation, and elearning content
- Performing live for events, theater, presentations, and brand activations
- Interpreting scripts and developing characters, tone, delivery, and emotional expression appropriate to the project
- Improvising or adapting lines when a production calls for natural or unscripted responses
- Taking direction and collaborating with directors, producers, writers, and other members of the production team
- Preparing for auditions, rehearsals, table reads, or recording sessions as required
How to hire an actor on Upwork
Upwork has facilitated more than $30 billion in total transactions and services since its founding, connecting businesses with independent professionals across a wide range of creative and technical skills. To hire an actor, follow these four steps through posting a job, evaluating candidates, interviewing your top choices, and agreeing on scope before work begins.
Step 1: Post a job
A clear job post attracts actors whose skills, experience, and availability match your project. The more detail you share up front, the fewer mismatched proposals you’ll need to sort through later.
- Specify the medium and scope, such as a commercial, short film, corporate video, social media campaign, or voice-over
- Describe the role and casting requirements, including age range, character traits, performance style, and any required skills
- Include the shoot or recording location and whether the work will be in person or remote
- Provide production dates, estimated time commitment, and any rehearsal, fitting, or recording requirements
- Explain intended usage, including platforms, duration, territories, and any exclusivity requirements
- Note compensation, travel or wardrobe expectations, and union status when relevant
- Draw content from this job description template to adapt for your acting project
Use the Job Post Generator powered by Uma™, Upwork's Mindful AI. Describe your needs in a few sentences and Uma will draft a job post for you. On Upwork, the average time from job post to first proposal is just three hours.
Step 2: Evaluate candidates
A focused review helps you identify actors whose performance style and experience fit your production.
- Review demo reels, self-tapes, and work samples for acting ability, range, screen or vocal presence, and fit for the role
- Prioritize samples in formats similar to yours, such as commercials, scripted video, corporate content, or voice-over
- Check client feedback for reliability, professionalism, communication, and ability to take direction
- Confirm the actor has suitable audio, video, lighting, and recording equipment if they’ll be working remotely
- Verify availability, location, and any special skills or production requirements before shortlisting
Uma can conduct instant video interviews and provide shortlists of candidates with side-by-side comparisons. That side-by-side view makes it easier to weigh range, rate, and availability, so you spend your time on the strongest matches.
Step 3: interview top choices
Interviews and auditions help you assess performance fit, working style, and availability before making your selection.
- Request a brief self-tape or live audition using a short script excerpt to evaluate fit for the role
- Give a brief adjustment or redirection to see how the actor interprets and incorporates feedback
- Ask about their process for preparing a role and collaborating with directors and production teams
- Confirm availability for rehearsals, filming or recording, pickups, and additional recording (ADR) when applicable
- Discuss any scheduling, travel, wardrobe, or remote-production requirements
- Adapt these common interview questions to your acting project
Schedule and conduct interviews within Upwork Messages, with Uma providing a transcript and summary immediately after each call.
Step 4: Agree on scope and begin work
A written agreement keeps production requirements, compensation, and usage terms clear before work begins.
- Define deliverables, performance dates, recording or filming requirements, and deadlines
- Specify usage rights, including media, platforms, territories, duration, and whether exclusivity applies
- Set milestones around relevant production stages, such as rehearsal, filming or recording, pickups, and final delivery
- Agree on how additional takes, reshoots, pickups, or recording revisions will be handled
- Confirm compensation and any approved expenses for travel, wardrobe, equipment, or other production needs
Use messaging and the contract workroom to manage the project, with identity verification, payment protection, hourly tracking, and project funds for security. Uma helps you track milestones and next steps as the work moves forward.
Upwork is not affiliated with and does not sponsor or endorse any of the tools or services discussed in this article. These tools and services are provided only as potential options, and each reader and company should take the time needed to adequately analyze and determine the tools or services that would best fit their specific needs and situation.
The rates and information provided in this article are based on current data and industry sources available at the time of publication. Freelance rates can vary depending on factors such as experience, location, project scope, and market conditions. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research to confirm current rates and trends, as this information may change over time.