The skills necessary to become an actor vary greatly per job, but all are necessary in the long run. The actor who wants to be successful in all forms of media, such as theater, film or television, must master the use of each and every one. Some top actors have found that they are naturals at the profession, but most have to take years of classes. Young actors may have to endure many failed auditions before getting the one job that finalized their success.

The skills that actors must master include speech rate, oral projection, voice clarity, physical and vocal expression, vocal pitch, physical stance and eye contact. Many performers have worked for years to perfect a technique. Some are good at one and not another. Others have a natural gift for all. Whether they intend to perform in TV drama, movie or film drama, voice acting, musicals or theater productions, knowledge of each is necessary to meet the requirements of an acting career. These techniques will enable an actor to portray him/herself as being confident and ready to do the job.

The speed at which a person speaks is called the speech rate. The character actor must decide how slowly or quickly his character will speak and then portray that as best he can. Mentally and physically handicapped people often speak very slowly. People who are hysterical or extremely hyper tend to speak very fast. When the actor uses one speed or the other purposely, it does well to get a point across. Unintentionally, it can be a sign of a lack of talent. How loud or softly a person speaks is called vocal projection. Projection is necessary for an actor's voice to reach the entire audience in a theater, and vocal clarity goes along with projection. Over enunciating is one way to be sure that your speech is not mumbled and that it can be understood very easily.

Physical and vocal expressions are two distinctly different, yet also very similar, tasks that the character actor must master to be successful. Physical expression uses body language to portray a character's mood and demeanor. Vocal expression can convey various feelings and emotions. Vocal pitch is the range of voice. A good actor will learn to use their entire pitch range to their advantage. Physical stance is important because poor posture is indicative of nervousness. The actor is encouraged not to cross their legs or do other things, such as rocking, that might be distracting to the audience. The last thing is eye contact, which should be made either with another actor or the audience at all times.