I have worked with some super lovely actors who respect me, my fellow dressers, and my department as a whole, but that sadly doesn’t account for everyone. On my current show I’ve had actors not respect my time - repeatedly - and question why I’m trying to get their show laundry (answer, because I’ve been waiting for 15+ minutes, you’re partying around with your hair, and I still have to sort everything and preclean items). I’ve had actors dismiss what I do, and not consider it work or that I do skilled labour. Wardrobe is widely paid the least and treated the worst, we are dog bodies running around at the whims of actors who take their frustrations out on us. One actor, who I’m sure fans and colleagues would call lovely, called our entire department liars and refused to believe that we had costumes for them or that the costumes we didn’t have were being held up by production not paying makers. Instead we were being sneaky and sewing pockets shut, or lying to his face.
Many actors are deeply self entitled especially, as ShineyEsperon stated, those who are new to the industry and don’t recognise their unprofessional and rude behaviour. One, after being told off for his actions, proclaimed he was greater than almost everyone on the stage with him, yet this actor would refuse to work over the smallest thing.
And don’t always trust that just because they’re nice to their colleagues faces that they’re like that all the time, because my current cast will compliment you in one breath and then insult you when you turn your back.
Like all people actors can’t all be tarnished with the same brush, but more than you think could be.
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Actors fit in one of two categories
Those who feel lucky and blessed to be on a show, and those who think the show are lucky and blessed to have them.
