Starting an acting career can often feel like a catch-22: you need experience to get seen, but you need opportunities in order to gain experience. In this honest and practical session, casting director Yvonne Lawlor explores how emerging actors can begin building momentum in the industry—even without major credits, representation, or established connections.

Drawing on years of experience casting for television and film, Yvonne breaks down what casting directors actually look for when meeting newer talent, and why a lack of credits doesn’t necessarily mean a lack of potential. The session will explore how actors can make strong first impressions through self-tapes, spotlight materials, CV presentation, training, and professional communication, as well as how to identify opportunities that genuinely help build a career rather than simply fill a résumé.

The seminar will also address the increasingly global nature of casting. With productions now searching internationally for fresh talent, actors no longer need to be based in traditional industry hubs to get noticed. Yvonne will discuss how performers from anywhere in the world can position themselves for opportunities in UK and international productions, including the importance of authenticity, tape quality, accents, online visibility, and understanding the expectations of different markets.

Actors will gain insight into how to stand out at an early stage of their career, how to avoid common mistakes that can hold newer performers back, and how to approach the industry with confidence and professionalism before major credits arrive. Whether you’re just graduating, changing careers, self-training, or trying to break through from outside the major acting centres, this session offers practical guidance on taking those first real steps into the screen industry.