The Actor's Life: A Survival Guide

Jenna Fischer

2017 • 252 pages

Ratings15

Average rating4.1

"Jenna Fischer moved to Hollywood at age 22 with a theater degree in hand, ready to work hard. But it would be eight long years of struggle, rejection, and doubt before she landed her iconic role on The Office. If only she'd had someone to show her the way--an established actor who could manage her expectations and reassure her in moments of despair... With amusing candor and wit, Fischer spells out the nuts and bolts of getting established in the profession, based on her own memorable and hilarious experiences. She tells you how to get the right headshot, what to look for in representation, and the importance of joining forces with other like-minded artists and creating your own work. She provides helpful hints on how to take risks and not to fall for scams, as well as tricks to good auditioning and callbacks."--Back cover.

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Popular Reviews

Reviews with the most likes.

C. J. Daley

Note this is not a fair rating.

You may wonder what I was doing listening to this audiobook when I have nothing to do with acting and I don't aspire to be one. Truthfully, from the moment I started it I was wondering the same thing, but I rarely ever stop once I've started something.

I had just finished the Bassoon King and Paddle Your Own Canoe so I guess I thought maybe this would be more of an autobiography/self-help kind of book like Rainn Wilson and Nick Offerman's. However, I wasn't such a giant fan of theirs either (this kind of thing isn't really my type anyway) and seeing as I gave their stories 3, and personally I believe they are better written, that is why the 2 rating.

If you are an actor or aspiring maybe this will be a wonderful guide for you, I would not know.

January 17, 2020

Kyle Erickson

I have not seen Jenna Fischer in anything, (Scrolling through her IMDB, I have actually seen Hall Pass and That 70s Show, but don't remember her in them)although I started The Office before finishing the book, to see some of her acting in it. I didn't have any sort of attachment with the author and bought this book entirely because I am considering the actor's life.

This book was incredible. So much useful information in an entertaining and accessible way. This book won't make you an actor, but it'll make you understand what you're in for. I even found the quotes from other actors on the side of the pages to be informative and inspirational.

Jenna is also very funny and relatable in this book, and tells you just how hard of a life it is but also why it's worth it for the right people. Every aspiring actor should read this atleast once. I know I'll read it more than that.

January 25, 2018