Expert: Kenneth D. Plonkey - 8/25/2009

Question
Hello, my name is Alex. I am a 13 year old girl, but I turn 14 in a few days. I have wanted to be an actress since i was 4 and i begged my mom to put me on Barney. I just dont know what to do about it. I'm from Baltimore, MD and there isn't much oppurtunity here. I would love to go to acting classes and do anythying possible to make my dream come true. However, my family doesn't have the money to help me do this. I have little experience in acting. I have taken middle school and elementary school theatre arts classes (and soon to be highschool drama classes)and i've only done middle school plays. I would be willing to do any sort of acting job possible that is offered to me. I would like to be in movies (any genre) or act in a series on disney or theN and things like that. I have patients to wait but I want to do some form of acting before im 16. This is the only career i would want to spend my life doing. I know that I'm no Julia Roberts, but my drama teacher told me that i'm fairly good, and i believe that i could be great. I can handle whatever people might throw at me. Can you give me some advice as to how to reach this goal under my circumstances?

Answer
Hello Alex. I am terribly sorry, but you are not going to be an actress before you are 18, because your parents have to make it happen for minors. They have to sign everything for you and go to everything with you, essentially devoting their life for your career. And you would have to move to where the action is. None of this is going to happen, is it? And school classes are not acting experience, nor do they count in the professional world as training. Middle school plays are a good start, high school plays will be much better. If you get really good roles, you might think about becoming an actress as an adult.  Wait and see what happens. Sorry, but that is the truth of the matter. God bless, Doc