How to become an actress at 15?

Step 1 - talk to your parents. If you're looking for a professional career your parents are going to have to be willing to do the work and research to understand the business end of the industry and be the CEO of your career. Something they (and you) should look over:

http://bizparentz.org/gettingstarted/parentasceo.h...

http://bizparentz.org/gettingstarted/parentrespons...

Step 2 - Get training. While your parents learn about the industry, you can focus on "blooming where you are planted" and learning and growing as an actor. So take acting classes. Voice and dance lessons can be helpful too. Audition for what you can in your area - school plays, community theater, other local productions. READ - plays and scripts and book/websites about acting (both the craft the the business end of things). Keep your grades up in school.

Step 3 - Evaluate whether or not you should get an agent and attempt a professional career. Professional acting is a business. Companies are in it to make money. There's not a bunch of open auditions out there that just anyone can show up at. Usually you have to be invited to audition for professional work, usually through a talent agent.

Legitimate talent agents are paid on commission, getting a percentage of what their clients make. (Never pay an agent up front.) They are paid only IF their clients book jobs - so they are very picky about who they take on as clients. So you can't just go out and hire an agent - you have to convince an agent that you are "marketable" and that you have the talent, training, experience and commitment to book professional jobs.

Networking is the best way to get an agent. So while you do all that "training and stuff" that you need to do, people get to know what kind of actor you are. Maybe you can impress an acting teacher/coach or a director you've worked with or another actor and they would be willing to refer you to a talent agent. Well respected acting schools/programs attract talent agents to their showcases and that's another way you could be seen by a talent agent.

Another way to get an agent is through blind submissions. Basically you and your parents make a list of legitimate talent agents that you're interested in. You research them to see if they accept unsolicited submissions and how they want them. Then you send them your professional head shot and acting resume. If they're interested in you, they contact you about an interview/audition. If you don't hear anything back, then they're not interested in you at this time.

But understand - getting an agent is only the tip of the iceberg. There are currently about 20,000 child actors with agents in LA. So IF you can get an agent (and that's a big IF), you're still not guaranteed work. There are also legal requirements/restrictions for minors - you'll need an entertainment work permit, a Coogan trust account and since you're under 14, a parent or guardian will have to be on set with you at all times (unpaid). Jobs are either "union" or "non-union" so they're going to have to understand how the actors union works as well. It's a big commitment for you and your parents.

Some websites with more information::

http://bizparentz.org/thebizness/agentsmanagers101...

http://www.backstage.com/topics/kids/

http://youngperformers.sagaftra.org/files/youngper...

Good luck

Get into local and community theatre. When you're 18, get into an accredited drama school where agents scout for new talent. Agents and casting directors NEVER look at YouTube because they simply don't have time to trawl millions of amateur videos on the off chance - theyare running a business, after all!

Find a reputable agent to represent you, they are fake if they ask you for money don't fall for that. you should also have two contrasting monologues some people do Shakespeare then something more modern. This can be from films, books, plays t.v shows and so on. One agency that i know here in England is ARG check them out, hope that helps!

Make your own Youtube video and promote it online. You will get noticed and signed if you are any good.