For an actor to create and sustain a career, it’s important to know exactly who they are in the eyes of the industry, not who they want to be. Every day I work with actors helping them to figure that out, by developing their brand and pinpointing their specific type. The first question I always ask is, “What is your age range?” How the actor responds tells so much about their professionalism. Once I worked with a guy who told me he played 27–35. I was silent for quite a while trying to figure out how to respond when I just blurted out, “But aren’t you, like, 45?”

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“I’m 47 but everybody says I look 27.”

“Really? Do they?”

I’m not saying that everyone is that delusional, and definitely not as delusional as I am. Seriously, every time I look in the mirror I see that 28-year-old guy who had it all going on. However, when I step out into the real world, I have to be realistic about who I am and that includes being honest about my age range.

Agents, casting directors, and directors want to work with professional actors—those that know who they are and what they have to offer. Answering the question “What is your age range?” with “I don’t know, you tell me,” or “I can play anywhere from 15–40” is not the response of a professional actor. In fact, that can be very off-putting to a potential employer.