Hey guys, lurked for what seems like years but finally signed up and posting.
I've made the cut for the IEC and am set for a move in the summer for at least 2 years and would be hoping in that time to sort permanent residency. Leaving my law degree behind as I've finally had enough of doing something that isn't my passion but I won't bore you with my life story. I've acted in the UK for a few years, done tons of community theatre and student films and some shorts but asides from that it seems impossible to progress here without drama school or an agent (ironically who you can't get without further experience, which you can't get without...you see where this is going). Anyway there are several reasons for the move that is just one of them, plus I'll be taking classes at second city and armstrong .
Is anybody trying to make it as a British actor in Toronto or elsewhere in Canada, would be good to hear how thing's have gone and if there were many opportunities for you !

Sorry if my post was too long!

Can't say I've seen many actors around these boards... but hopefully some people will be able to contribute some thoughts!

I know that Toronto and Vancouver are the more popular film spots in Canada...

Find paid extra spots, if there is filming going on, there will generally be some paid spots, and while the pay sucks (min. wage) it gets your face out there and spots on your resume.

My wife while Canadian born did some acting in the past, she still does some paid extra work from time to time, and only decent paid work she had done was in commercials, for instance she was paid 2,500 to appear in a 30 second commercial, per hour the pay probably sucked, but it got her face out there and another spot on the resume.

She had an agent though.

I'll see if she has any other tips, she is still active in community theatre and knows a couple people who have parts in current TV shows (very tiny background parts, no stars.)

BC is probably the better place to be if your trying to get into movie's or TV, but it will be an uphill battle. Lots of community theatre in Vancouver as well to participate in. Hollywood North as they call Vancouver/BC.

Wife was also in the A Team movie, about 5 second extra spot, that one was unpaid extra work, but was right next to one of the main actors.

Be prepared to take on a real job, and do acting in your free time as you may not get a lot of paid stuff, and the accent could hinder you but if you can fake a North American accent, that should not be much of an issue.


There are actors out there who manage to make a living doing extra work.

There are certainly a few primadonna's on these boards.....

if you seriously want to be an actor, you need to get to LA for pilot season.

that's (ironically) how a lot of canadian actors land tv series.