How to Stay Motivated When the Roles Aren’t Coming

There’s a stretch in every actor’s life — sometimes a long one — where the phone just isn’t ringing. The callbacks slow down. The excitement dims. You start to wonder if it’s you, or if maybe this dream just wasn’t meant for you after all.

But here’s the truth: we all go through it. Every actor, no matter how many credits or awards, has faced that quiet space where doubt creeps in. Staying motivated during those stretches isn’t about ignoring the struggle — it’s about remembering why you started in the first place and creating momentum in small, intentional ways.

• It Starts with the Craft

Before we talk about survival strategies or mental health tools, we have to start with the most important thing: the love of the craft.

If you’re doing this because you want to be famous, the rejection will crush you. If you’re doing it because you love becoming someone else, telling stories, uncovering truth — then there’s a well of motivation inside you that doesn’t dry up just because the roles aren’t coming.

Loving the craft doesn’t mean you don’t get tired or frustrated. It doesn’t mean you’re immune to disappointment. It just means your passion becomes your anchor.

For me, it shows up in the quiet hours. Reading plays at home. Rehearsing monologues alone in my apartment. Studying a great performance and dissecting every breath, every pause. The gym prepared me for this — the hours spent alone, working on my shot when no one was clapping. Now it’s character work instead of drills, script analysis instead of playbooks. Still the same grind. Still the same love.

And look — this isn't about being smug or pretending you don't need validation. We all want to be seen. We want to work. But if you can find joy in the process — in just doing the work, whether someone’s watching or not — you’ll have something the industry can’t take from you.

• Find Your Tribe

Hollywood can be a lonely place. You show up, do your audition, smile, and leave. No one claps. No one debriefs with you. And then you sit by the phone that doesn’t ring. Again.

But here's the thing: you're not the only one.

There are thousands of people walking the same road — actors, writers, directors, musicians — all trying to get seen, get heard, get better. One of the most motivating things you can do is find your tribe. Not just friends, but people who speak the same creative language. People who remind you that you're not crazy for doing this.

Start a scene group. Do table reads of each other's scripts. Grab coffee and talk shop. Collaborate on short films. Film a two-minute scene with nothing but an iPhone and good lighting. Just create. The process itself is medicine, and connection is fuel.

I’ve met some of the most inspiring people since relocating to L.A. — folks grinding just like me. Some of those connections will turn into collaborations. Others into lifelong friends. That’s the beauty of building with people who are also building.

• Stay Active, Stay Centered

This industry will test your identity if you let it. When the auditions stop or the roles don’t land, it’s easy to start questioning your worth. That’s why it’s crucial to keep your life full — outside the audition room.

Hit the gym. Take a hike. Learn yoga. Do something physical that helps you feel in your body again. Stress doesn’t just live in your mind — it lingers in your muscles, your posture, your breath. Move it out. Sweat it out.

And don’t forget to feed your soul. Go watch a play. Take yourself to the movies — not just to be entertained, but to study, to be inspired. Watch other actors work. Let their energy refuel you. Applaud their performances and let that admiration pull you closer to your own goals. This isn’t about comparison — it’s about connection.

When you’re feeling stuck, one of the best things you can do is go celebrate someone else. Be the person who lifts up your peers. Because when your time comes — and it will — that same energy will find its way back to you.

• Keep Going — You're Not Alone

The “no’s” are part of the job. So are the dry spells. So are the moments of wondering if it’s all worth it.

But if you still feel something spark when you read a great script… if you still catch your breath watching a flawless performance… if you still daydream about that character you know you could crush — then you’re still in this. That passion is still alive. And that’s all you need to take the next step.

This path isn’t just about arriving at some destination. It’s about showing up — again and again — for something you love.

Stay close to the craft. Surround yourself with people who believe like you do. Take care of your body, your mind, and your spirit. And remember: even when it feels quiet… you are not alone.

Keep going. The next role is always closer than you think.