The Actor’s Life by Jenna Fischer
A Book Review
Have you ever gone to a party and been asked who you would most like to have a drink with? At the moment, if you were to ask me that my answer would be, Jenna Fischer. You know who she is, right? Pam Beesly from The Office is probably her best-known role.
Not only is Jenna funny, (which is what I definitely want in a drinking partner) but she’s also really generous. How do I know? Because she’s written a book called, “The Actor’s Life” that details her journey from a small-town Midwestern girl to realizing her dream to become an actor in Los Angeles.
It’s a 10-year odyssey packed full of funny anecdotes (and even a recipe for actor’s pizza that you won’t want to miss) about how she went from a starving actress to a working actor. Jenna spills plenty of tea about her more embarrassing moments, the times she wanted to give up, and the things that made her persevere. Sometimes, hope came from unexpected places but it always came when she most needed it. And she’s made it her mission to “pay it forward,” which really comes through as she lays out her tips on what you need as a beginning actor, what to expect when you begin to book work, and how to make the most out of your new status as a “working actor.”
I’m a working actor — albeit — nowhere near the level of Jenna, but I don’t have to wait tables or do temp work to pay my bills, and I can say this book was an honest look on the hard work and determination (and a soupçon of luck) that it takes to join the ranks of the 2% (which is supposedly the percentage of actors who actually make their living acting). Her advice is geared toward actors in Los Angeles but so much of what she says can be applied to actors everywhere. I’m in Munich, Germany, and found myself nodding along to her advice.
This book has something for everyone. Whether you are just starting out with stars in your eyes, you are already out there grinding away, or you’re an established actor, you’ll find something of value in this book — even if it only makes you smile (and sometimes laugh out loud).
Jenna, if you’re ever in Munich, hit me up.
