h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I have the misfortune, to be an Actor. Not a child one, but an Adult one, and let me say that I never was a child actor. In fact I'll say that again in capitals. I NEVER WAS A CHILD ACTOR. I must admit to harbouring a distinct dislike of Child Actors, well, if truth be told, also of other actors in general ("Ooh have you caught my good side?", "Can I have more puffy luvvy!", "No I couldn't possibly do that without another £23000"). But (yes there is a but), I once had to do a short film with a child actor, a girl of about 9. Her Mother was on set with her, and I have to say, this kid, as well as being a fantastic actress was incredibly grounded. She was amazing, very intelligent, and not even a little bit spoilt. So there are some good child actors out there, but on the whole, I think that the majority of them should be sent to work down coal mines, or up chimmneys. Do them the world of good, give them a career

I quite agree. I'm doing a show at the moment that requires a child of the age of three to be on stage on and off through Act II, different ones every week coz we're on tour and in the five or six weeks we've been going we've had two excellant ones, some good ones and some little horrors and we've still got six weeks to go AAAAAARRGGGHHHH! Oh well that's showbiz.

hows mickey

I've been involved with a local theater group for years, and every spring we do a kid-oriented production (Puff the Magic Dragon, Wizard of Oz stories, fairy tales, etc.) with some of the local kids. Some of the kids are great to work with, but their mothers are inevitably horrendous! I actually had one tell me last week that her daughter couldn't wear the red-yarn Raggedy-Ann wig because it "clashed with Princess's lovely complexion." She actually demanded that we change it so that Raggedy Ann had ankle-length golden curls and a set of pink satin bows instead!! She also wanted us to give her child's name a 16pt. typeface in the programme while everyone else had their name in 8pt., and her kid only had 8 lines and 10 minutes worth of stage time in a 2hr. production! Can you imagine!!

I've met lots of child actors that I enjoyed working with - even a few I've admired - but I've never yet met one of their mother's that I didn't want to slap silly by the end of the rehersal.