# Child actors - how do they do it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 7, 2001, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-how-do-they-do-it/92050 "2001-11-07T20:41:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-how-do-they-do-it/92050/1 "2001-11-07T20:41:51Z")
How do child actors do what they do? I mean, how do they have the maturity to handle the professionalism necessary to get their jobs done? Every time I’ve seen a child do any kind of acting (such as school plays), it’s the stuff that makes funniest video shows. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-how-do-they-do-it/92050/2 "2001-11-07T21:51:42Z")
I share your awe, but I’d point out that children in school plays have spent maybe two hours rehearsing. (Most of which is just learning their cues.) Whereas children in professional work are drilled more solidly. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Kipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Kipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kipper)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-how-do-they-do-it/92050/3 "2001-11-08T05:28:39Z")
Well then you also have Episode I were the child actor does look like he’s just stepped out of a school play. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-how-do-they-do-it/92050/4 "2001-11-08T05:44:52Z")
School plays must be tough nowadays. Haley Joel Osmont didn’t get a speaking role when he auditioned for his school play. It is sure hard to understand how he can be as good as he is. I recently saw an older movie of his in which his character’s mother leaves him. She leaves a note saying she is gone forever. Osment reads the note while in close up and cries 'til snot runs from his nose. Unbelievable. And he seems like such a nice 13 year old. ---
**Author:** ![silent\_rob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@silent\_rob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silent_rob)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-how-do-they-do-it/92050/5 "2001-11-08T08:38:48Z")
I don’t know, but there are some that are pretty impressive. And when you think about it, acting in a film is hard enough when it comes to early mornings and long days. But acting well under those conditions when you’re just a kid is even more impressive. Though I have heard of a lot of productions that have twins playing the same role (both so the director could get more shots done because of child actor laws, and also so it isn’t so hard on the child). There’s a horror movie I’ve seen where the baby is played by two sets of twins. ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-how-do-they-do-it/92050/6 "2001-11-08T13:14:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by silent\_rob \* > \*\*There’s a horror movie I’ve seen where the baby is played by two sets of twins. \*\* Yeah, I’ve sen **Full House** too… Oh, wait. Maybe you’re NOT talking about Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2001, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-how-do-they-do-it/92050/7 "2001-11-09T11:16:05Z")
i get what your saying - it’s pr’y amazing how good some of them are, but i don’t find it too surprising. i’m in an amateur theatre co, fairly succesful, and a lot of the primary school kids are actually really good. it’s just you know, effort and commitment i guess. and being really really good. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2001, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-how-do-they-do-it/92050/8 "2001-11-09T17:09:55Z")
I’m not sure this precisely answers the question, but it’s interesting reading. The web site for an acting school for kids: [Kids on Camera](http://www.kids-on-camera.com/purpose.html)