The Most Important Skill for Longevity as an Actor: Taking Direction
If there’s one skill that will guarantee longevity in this industry, it’s not talent, looks, or even confidence—it’s the ability to take direction.
This is the number one thing I see actors struggle with when they come to my weekly Screen Acting GYM classes.
Actors often arrive having prepared the scene in a very specific way. They’ve made strong choices—which is great—but when I offer redirection, many of them get stuck. We’ll do multiple takes, and despite new notes, they keep returning to the original idea. They’re holding on tightly to what they think works.
From my own professional experience, this is where actors either grow—or stall.
Every single time I’ve had an in-person audition or callback, the director has thrown unexpected ideas at me and completely redirected the scene. Sometimes the adjustment was subtle. Other times it was a full 180 from my original interpretation. I learned very quickly that this was the crucial skill I had to master.
And once I did, everything changed.
I started booking more roles. Directors I worked with invited me back to collaborate on future projects—not because I was “perfect,” but because I was reliable, adaptable, and easy to work with. They knew they could throw anything at me and I’d catch it, adjust, and throw it right back. That’s what being a good creative teammate really means.
My advice to actors is this: practice taking direction—especially when it doesn’t feel right.
Even when it feels uncomfortable.
Even when it goes against your original idea.
Even when you don’t fully understand it yet.
Trust the director. Trust that they see the bigger picture and understand the tone, the story, and the language of the camera. There is always a reason they’re asking for something different.
When I work with actors in my GYM classes, I can often sense hesitation. I can tell when they don’t quite agree with the direction I’ve given. But when they commit fully and follow the note anyway, something interesting happens. After we review the footage, I often hear comments like:
“I wasn’t sure about that note—it felt strange to do—but now that I see it on screen, it 100% works.”
That’s the magic of cinema.
When you’re working with someone who truly understands the medium of the camera, you begin to realize how different acting for the screen is from what feels right in the moment. What works internally doesn’t always read on camera—and what feels minimal or odd often translates beautifully.
So master the art of taking direction.
If you do, you’ll build a long, sustainable career—and you’ll be known as an actor who is professional, adaptable, reliable, and a joy to work with.
And in this industry, that reputation is everything.
Sending Hugs,
Natalia
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