The right look....

[Misspatricia]

Hello ,
Well daughter has always looked young for her age - and shes so short. Watching her in a recent school production she had to act as the girlfriend with another young lad , although she looked more like his little daughter-was rather quite funny !
Although the way she looks so young use to be an advantage to her getting parts - it's now become more difficult! Shes 17 and at school she don't seem to get ( or even considered)the adult parts and is usually always the sweet or funny child and the parts never usually big enough for her to show her true potential or to challenge herself.

She is usually being told she looks about 13 and soon with her wanting to start applying for agents etc - were unsure wether leaving her looking the way she is and see whether work will be to her advantage or ....make up! - when she wears make up she looks about anything from 14 to 16 !

When a child passes the age of 16 do agents like them to look their age or older? Or do agents still like it when young actors look young for their age? However I don't want agents to feel as if my daughter is being "fake" or trying to glam herself up - I don't particularly think my daughter needs to wear make up ( but of course DD loves it! - she says she feels her age and that people notice her really different! )

When DD previously applied for an agent at 14 the agent didn't think she looked at all 14 - and that she looked something more like ten !! Its just now DD feels it might be more difficult being taken on by an agent by the time she's 18 and not looking old enough ? What do agents want/look for ?

[tikka]

I'm not an expert, but if you are with an agent who takes on young people that are over 16, yet you look much younger, it must be to your advantage because they can cast you as a child without the bother of getting a licence.

I know kids all want to look older, or at least their age, but it could be a bonus and get your dd lots of work. A lot of the actors on tv playing school kids are often in their twenties.

Good luck

Tikka

[pg]

This could be very, very useful for your daughter!

It will be particularly useful for stage - perhaps less so for film/TV, though it depends whether she really does look 12 or 13 when alongside someone who genuinely is 12 or 13.

Professional theatre companies may cast young looking adults as children and I think she might find agents would be very interested in her after drama school if she still looks really young. I understand that she would like more "adult" parts, but once you're trying to earn a living, work is work and most actors take what they can get!

I know that one of my son's friends at RADA (who is a superb actress) has played a number of parts as children since graduating - in prestigious, high profile companies - as she looks very young and has a very slight build. She has also had success in "adult" roles, but accepts that her stature/look will mean that she may get more work as a "child".
(I've just spotted that she's been nominated for an Olivier award... ).

On a tour I did with a small scale regional touring theatre, there were two 15 year old characters played by actors in their twenties.

I do think it will be more important for theatre than for screen work though as it is so much easier to employ an adult than a child - and theatre tends to have much longer contracts than TV/film.

[ruby95]

I am 17 and am exactly the same but I am also lucky enough to be able to look older when I need to with the help of make up. My playing age ranges from about 12 to my actual age. I really enjoying playing younger parts as I find it can be more interesting, it adds an extra layer if you have to get into a child's mindset. I also usually find that looking young is an advantage. When I was 15 I got down to the final 4 for a part in Harry Potter, the character was 10. Ironically, in the end, the director said the reason he didn't cast was because I looked that bit too old but most people my age wouldn't have even been considered. Maybe this is just my experience but I think that for every downside looking young brings in 'life', there is an upside in the acting world.

[francescasmum]

Many of the people in predominantly teenage programmes like Hollyoaks and Waterloo Road, are far older than the characters they play. Many of the 15-18 year olds have been cast with people in their late teens, early 20s.

[Dell71]

Just a word of warning...my dd's agency specifically stated that they did not want children wearing make-up at the audition for the agency.

[shortguy]

My Ds is coming up to 22 and often plays 15/16 year olds!

[Misspatricia]

Sorry for the late reply! Thankyou everyone for your comments!
It's nice to hear this seems to be an advantage