Marketing Me

Heather is twenty-two and a senior theater student. In her senior year as an undergraduate, she is struggling with messages she gets from teachers about how she should try to market herself in what she is “best at.” Heather says that she doesn’t want to be “pigeonholed,” or not win a particular role because she does not look a certain way. She struggles with issues of body image and questions whether she is “pretty enough” to be successful. Although she does not rule out the option of plastic surgery, she struggles with the idea that a change in physical appearance can make someone more or less appealing and more or less qualified for a role. She would like decisions to be based on skill and talent.

Heather is a twenty-two-year-old theater student, studying at a university theater department. She first became involved in theater at the age of four because, as she says, she needed a way to express her emotions. Heather finds theater empowering: it gives a voice to what is otherwise inappropriate in everyday life. In her undergraduate theater training, Heather is trying to develop a broad base of experience. She chooses acting challenges that are “new territory” when she can, and is drawn to roles that stretch her or “parallel” her own “emotional life.” As a student, she wants to achieve excellence and a sense of ease in performance.

As an actor, Heather feels most responsible to the playwright and to the characters she portrays. As she explains, “the ‘self’ must be shed for the sake of the play, fellow actors, and anyone else involved.” She has felt torn when a director likes her portrayal of a character, but she is dissatisfied. When this occurs, she will approach the director for notes and ask why they are satisfied; ultimately, she defers to the director’s opinion. Heather understands that if she is to become a professional, the director’s word is final, and she believes that professionalism comes first.

Heather cannot imagine doing anything but acting. While her brothers often remind her of the financial obstacles that are ahead of her, she tries not to think about them. She is willing to work hard and believes there are plenty of small opportunities and networking possibilities. She explains that she only requires “enough money to pay for the basics” and “perhaps go out to dinner now and then.” Heather maintains that even if she could not act, she would be involved in some sort of public effort such as a theater institute for young girls. 

Heather believes that the ultimate goal of all theater is to offer social commentary that can help make important societal issues more accessible to the larger population.

In her senior year as an undergraduate, she is struggling with messages she gets from teachers. She has been told that she should think about what is unique about her as an actress and try to market herself in what she is “best at.” Heather has been thinking about the idea of “marketing” in terms of her skills and abilities, as well as her physical appearance. She explains: 

“My teachers really talk to us a lot about marketing … something I can’t say I’ve really thought about in the past because I hated the idea. But recently, I’ve had to really think who I am as an actor. Like, when I walk into a room of actors, who am I among them? I never wanted to think about marketing myself because I don’t want to be pigeonholed; I just hate the idea of…because I’m smart, I play the smart one, and I can’t play the funny one, or something else. I know that I can play all of these characters, and I want to, and I don’t like the idea of being denied an opportunity.”

Given all of the talk around marketing oneself, Heather questions whether she is “pretty enough” to be successful. She worries that her looks are an obstacle and she is afraid of being denied opportunities. As she explains, “I consider myself beautiful, but I don’t consider myself conventionally attractive. And I feel like that might get in the way of my career.” Though Heather always sees a “great body” getting great roles, she believes that people are or are not attractive because of what they “radiate from inside.” 

Because Heather is concerned that her looks may hinder her career, she does not rule out the option of plastic surgery. Though she does not “believe in it” and claims that she “will not do that” right now, she suggests that in the future, it might be necessary. She explains:

“I know I’ve got talent and I feel like my body might be something that could hinder me. Honestly, do I get my boob job, fix my teeth, and raise my brow, and get liposuction? It’s an option. But at this point, I’ve decided I don’t want plastic surgery, and who knows how I’ll feel when I’m thirty-five, and I’m no longer ingénue looking, or whatever that is … everyone’s experience and needs are different, so maybe when I’m thirty-five, I’ll feel differently. Or fifty—who knows? I don’t think you’re a bad person if you get plastic surgery. I have friends who find it normal to do that in high school. I just don’t want it for myself right now.”

As far as Heather is concerned, “it really just comes down to asking yourself, ‘what do I really want here?’ Because if what you really, really want is to be successful, then no one is going to look at you and tell you that being gorgeous is going to hurt. Like if you can get that body, you’re increasing your chances of success.” As much as she might like decisions to be based on skill and talent, Heather realizes that this is not always the reality of life in show business.

How are Heather’s values in conflict with how she views her industry’s values? Have you ever felt pressure to act in contradiction to your values for “success” (however that is defined to you)?