The Actor's Life

I have never had an desire to be an actor but I love Jenna Fischer so I thought I would read this book anyway. I am so glad I did. I loved it! Even the parts with advice for actors. She’s so funny and entertaining and I love the BTS info about Hollywood. Also, being an actor sounds like my worst nightmare.

This is written by Jenna Fischer who played on the hit show "Office" for years. I was hooked on that show for a long time which gave me an interest in reading her book. It's written mainly as a guide for those who are bitten by the acting bug and really as a way to help them with tips and ideas on how to get started and keep going in a career in acting. It seems like it would really be helpful for someone with that seriously in mind for their life too if they really have the drive and ambition to do it and are willing to sacrifice and make it their life's goal as she did. Just as thousands do every year, and work hard at other jobs while they struggle and take classes and continue to hone their skill at acting. And of course, right now with all of the hype about the Weinstein case, you can't help but wonder about how many go through the added indignity of being subjected to sexual harassment too, as part of the struggle of making it as an actor. Hopefully, the light being shined on the subject will help some, but it seems it's been around as long as acting has been. Thanks for reading. An ARC was provided by NetGalley for an unbiased review.

Although I have no aspirations to be an actor, I absolutely loved this book! I've always been interested in the entertainment business. I grew up in West Los Angeles, the daughter of a theater actress and a professional musician. I loved Jenna Fischer's comprehensive, honest, and fascinating writing. The photos (i.e. series of good and bad headshots), resumes, etc. were such a great compliment to her story.

Any aspiring actor would be incredibly lucky to read this book. Fischer makes it clear that it takes a long time and struggle to truly "make it" and her example of never giving up, despite wanting to do so numerous times, is incredibly inspiring. I was sad when I finished this book - always a good sign when it comes to a worthy read!

I am so grateful this book is out there as a tool for aspiring actors! I only wish it had been something I had when I started out, years ago. The advice Jenna Fischer gives is not only invaluable, it's up to date and 100% honest in its description of the way the industry works right now.

I think that it can also be a really helpful tool for parents and loved ones of those who are in the acting business or even considering it to read as well. I've had so many of the uncomfortable conversations about my career at family functions, and I loved knowing that someone as successful goes through the same things. This can help people in an actor's life understand the difficulty that performers face. It's pretty easy to understand what an account does-- this can help acting be a bit easier to fathom as a career.

I'd be remiss if I didn't admit that I'm a huge fan of the work that Jenna did on "The Office", and it's a treat to hear about how she came to work on the show. It's no small feat that she does so without being narcissistic and instead, uses her life experience to summer a light on how truly unpredictable the business is.

Sincerely a useful, insightful read that I will return to. And I would tell other performers to do the same! A must have book for the aspiring actor.

I am about to start reading The Actor’s Life: A Survival Guide by Jenna Fischer. I love her as an actress, she is hilarious in every movie. And of course, as Pam on The Office, I can’t forget that one!

I don’t ever want to be an actress in Hollywood but I do love hearing the stories from those who have worked in the industry so I’m super interested to hear what Jenna has to say.

Here’s the synopsis:

Jenna Fischer’s Hollywood journey began at the age of 22 when she moved to Los Angeles from her hometown of St. Louis. With a theater degree in hand, she was determined, she was confident, she was ready to work hard. So, what could go wrong?

Uh, basically everything. The path to being a professional actor was so much more vast and competitive than she’d imagined. It would be eight long years before she landed her iconic role on The Office, nearly a decade of frustration, struggle, rejection, and doubt.

If only she’d had a handbook for the aspiring actor. Or, better yet, someone to show her the way—an established actor who could educate her about the business, manage her expectations, and reassure her in those moments of despair. Jenna wants to be that person for you.

I think this is going to be a fun, quick read. Perfect for a lazy weekend!

I think the best way to describe this book is "cute and funny". I thought there would be a little more "dirt" in her story, but overall this was good.

I like that the author has a sens of humor and in many ways, this book shows that she doesn't take everything overly seriously, especially in the business she is in.

A lot of fun to read, just wish there was a little more juicy stuff.

This was a nice cross between biography and honest advice from an actor who succeeded in Hollywood. Jenna Fischer outlines her eight-year journey to becoming an overnight sensation. She also gives concrete and (at least from my incredibly un-knowledgeable point of view) good advice on how to be an actor and what you can realistically expect when you move to LA to become a Big Star.



Four stars

This book came out November 14

ARC kindly provided by NetGalley

In grade school I got my start when I played Toto in The Wizard of Oz

In THE ACTOR’S LIFE, author Jenna Fischer gives some tough, but kindly advice to the aspiring actor. She admits it was a really tough road for her, and required a lot of persistence, as well as luck. The journey is a “long and difficult one that requires a lot of hard work. . . Without a little luck on your side, you can be the most talented actor in the world and not achieve success.“

Here’s the honest truth—it’s very unlikely you will become a star, or even make a living wage: “If your motivation for becoming an actor is because you are hoping to be rich, change careers now. Most actors barely earn a living wage from their acting work.” Jenna notes how low the wages typically are: “Most of the SAG-AFTRA membership earns less than $ 7,000 a year from acting. Only 5 percent earn more than $ 100,000.”

She advises the budding actress to get a day job to pay the bills. She did all kinds of menial jobs, but one was really unusual—she was as a telephone psychic for about a week! (She later explains she learned to lie really well.)

So all in all, I found THE ACTOR’S LIFE to be a fun, easy read. I appreciate the candor of the author in explaining how tough it really was for her. There are tons of useful tips for the aspiring actor or actress, such as detailed instructions for getting a really good "head shot." The author writes well, and I found this book to be a pleasant read.

Advance Review Copy courtesy of the publisher.

I read this more as a fan of Jenna Fischer than as an aspiring actor, but I found it very enjoyable. Anecdotes and advice come in almost a 1:1 ratio, so it never feels too much like a handbook - it always carries her personal story. Her books seems as charming and likable as she is. I'd definitely recommend to aspiring actors, and to fans of The Office or charming pseudo-memoirs.

Well this book was not marketed towards me, as I have never wanted to be an actor, it was an interesting read. Jenna Fisher is such a likable person and this was easy to read and highly entertaining at times. I liked having a behind the scenes look at the inner workings of an actor. This is definitely more of a how to then a memoir but my favorite parts were the little anadotes she made throughout about her own encounters. If you want to be an actor or know someone who does I highly recommend this book because there is lots of great advice from someone who struggled to find success but found it nonetheless.

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.