Logophile

Hi,

I'm a 19 year old aspiring actress. Just recently I realized that acting is THE thing I want to do. Realizing this has been both exciting and overwhelming. I suffer from BDD, however, and am constantly battling this. It is holding me back from pursuing acting because I feel too ugly to be an actress. Not that you have to be beautiful to act, but I would not be happy NOT being seen as beautiful. This is stupid, but a fact of my mentality. I have such a passion for acting, but I cannot imagine the horror of getting into it and going far and seeing a horrendous picture of myself. I honestly could not take it.

Does anyone else have these worries? Any other BDD sufferers around who are acting?

Anyway, if I get the courage I hope to be able to learn and grow into an actress. Nice to meet you all.

SWK78

Looks isnt the same as talent. If you love acting, that's all you need to know. Acting is your passion, your freedom. No "ugly" picture can steal your pride unless you let it. You have your pride, and your dignity, and your honor to yourself. No one can steal those things. Beauty is within. Your eyes say it all in this industry. If your eyes lie you have nothing. Your face and body are only instruments, and it doesnt matter what they look like, and long as your eyes can sell the story. I know Im not the prettiest girl out there, but I know I have talent, and acting is what I love, so acting is what I do. Welcome to our world!

SWK78

__________________
With Fate there are countless paths....

x_mike_x

no one is perfect you know! not even famous people, its about on the inside that counts and i can see from what you have written that you are a beautiful person! i have worrys about being interveiwed and being filmed although i have been in a short film for schools before its nothing compared to holly wood and stuff. i have now thought forget it if i want to be famous ive got to divid and concore my fears and worrys of being interveiwed and being on camera and seeing myself on tv!

cenobitehell

im ugly on nearly every picture i see. unless i am facing the camera with my head tipped forward slightly so my eyes look up. and im not smiling

but any other pics i just have to get used to it! at the end of the day, even the most hisous of pictures doesnt matter. cos no matter what you look like, its just how other people see you all the time anyway. if theres a relay bad on... just accept it. everyone will know its a bad one and just say " oh i dont like that picture"

its not the end of the world

and youd have to get used to it if you ever got Really well known, the paparazzi will get some awkward snaps of you when you leats excpect it!

Reel

Getting a headshot by a photographer is I think one of the first of couple of steps. No one at all looks bad in shots like those. If you are not content with the picture, you can always ask and than pay for a air brushing procedure. But, I don't think thats ever needed.

Edder

Welcome to the Actors Forum!

I think you share a worry with many other individuals out there with their hearts set on acting. But, SWK78 is absolutely right. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" and no one has the right to take it away. The bottom line is: talent agencies are looking for ... talent!

An average looking person can be given super model looks overnight, but learning how to act involves much more. To attain talent, one needs to do more than take in information and put it to work. Setting goals, receiving immediate feedback and focusing as much time on techniques as on the end result all contribute to the development of one's talent.