Actors, Comedians, and Circus Performers
Job description
Actors and comedians perform roles in a variety of productions (films, television series, plays, etc.) to entertain diverse audiences. Drama teachers teach acting techniques and performance to students. Circus Performers include trapeze artists, tightrope walkers, clowns, and jugglers. These individuals perform to entertain various circus audiences.
Environment
- Controlled ambient temperature
- Climatic conditions
- Vehicle or passenger compartment
- Humidity
- Hazardous workplaces
- Noise
Main tasks
Actors and Comedians
- Research and learn different techniques (handling a weapon, playing a sport, adopting an accent, etc.) in preparation for the role.
- Learn and rehearse texts, gestures, and expressions to interpret a role.
- Improvise, interpret roles, or narrate a text in various productions (movies, TV series, plays, etc.).
- Improvise or interpret roles in a simulation (emergency, job interview, etc.).
- Sing or dance, when required by certain roles.
- Dub the voice of actors who do not speak the same language. Drama Teachers
- Teach students the principles of drama, script interpretation, public speaking, and movement.
- Prepare students for special auditions and performances.
- Assess students as they learn and provide feedback.
- Detect and develop the potential of each student. Circus Performers (including trapeze artists, tightrope walkers, clowns, and jugglers)
- Perform humorous plays and acrobatics.
- Rehearse acts.
- Train to keep in excellent shape.
Hourly wage
Not available.Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects
All of Québec
All of Québec
Total jobs for 2023
All of Québec
All of Québec
Gender distribution
All of Québec
- 48.7% Female
- 51.3% Male
- 48.7% Female
- 51.3% Male
Job types
All of Québec
- Full time
- Part time
- Full time
- Part time
Yearly wage on 2020
All of Québec
All of Québec
Other characteristics
All of Québec
- None
All of Québec
- None
Sectors of activity
All of Québec
-
NAICS 7158% of jobs
-
NAICS 5121% of jobs
-
NAICS 617% of jobs
-
NAICS 5411, 54122% of jobs
-
NAICS 812% of jobs
-
Others10% of jobs
All of Québec
-
NAICS 7158% of jobs
-
NAICS 5121% of jobs
-
NAICS 617% of jobs
-
NAICS 5411, 54122% of jobs
-
NAICS 812% of jobs
-
Others10% of jobs
Training and requirements
Formation
Most training programs are offered in French only.
College
DCS in professional Theatre (Acting)
Placement rate: 76.1%
15.2% of graduates pursue further studies
University
Drama
Bachelor’s degree
Placement rate: 53.2%
25.5% of graduates pursue further studies
Master’s degree
Placement rate: 100%
Sometimes required
- Audition or previous roles demonstrating the talent and skills are usually required. Circus Performers
- Training in a specialized school is usually required. Drama Teachers
- Experience as an actor is usually required.
Main skills and characteristics
Skills
- Reading comprehension
- Oral expression
- Active listening
- Social perception
- Data collection
- Teaching
- Result evaluation
- Time management
- Critical thought
Abilities
- Overall coordination of the body
- Verbal skills
- Oral comprehension
- Limb coordination
- Digital dexterity
- Manual dexterity
- Endurance
- Overall balance of the body
- Dynamic strength
- Static muscle power
- Physical flexibility in extension
- Hand-arm stability
- Reaction time
- Speech clarity
- Written comprehension
- Memorization
- Dynamic physical flexibility
- Limb movement speed
- Originality
- Near vision
- Explosive strength
- Depth perception
- Awareness of issues
- Selective attention
- Idea generation
- Spatial orientation
- Control accuracy
- Speech recognition
- Response orientation
Knowledge and attributes
- Capacity to adapt
- Versatility
- Vitality
- Creativity
- Availability
- Enjoy challenges
- Knowledge of the arts
- Knowledge of communication and media
- Capacity to facilitate a group
- Spoken bilingualism (French and English)
Interests
- Work in the arts, culture, music, or leisure
- Create, design
- Self-employment
- Exercer une activité sportive ou physique
- Teach or educate
Personality profiles (RIASEC)
- Artistic
- People with this profile prefer to express their emotions and thoughts through various art forms. They like to use their imagination.
- Enterprising
- People with this profile prefer having responsibilities, influencing others and responding to challenges.
- Social
- People with this profile prefer to be in contact with others, in particular to entertain, help or teach them.
Official name of the NOC 53121
Actors, comedians and circus performers
Job titles
- Actor/actress
- Circus artist
- Acting teacher - private or studio
- Drama teacher - private or studio
- Stunt performer - film and theatre
- Acrobat
- Movie actor
- Entertainer
- Show horse rider
- Clown
- Comedian
- Drama actor
- Story teller
- Contortionist
- Film dubber
- Equilibrist
- Straight man
- Comic
- Stand-in
- Performing arts extra
- High-wire walker
- Humorist - performing arts
- Illusionist
- Impersonator
- Improviser
- Juggler
- Reader - performing arts
- Dramatic reader
- Mime
- Stand-up comedian
- Narrator
- Standardized patient
- Voice coach
- Diction coach
- Drama coach
- Trapeze artist
- Voice-over actor
- Aerial acrobat - entertainment
Skill type
Art, culture, recreation and sport
Last update: January 29, 2026