Well-being and the television actor: challenges and coping strategies

This chapter explores the complex nature of health and well-being for actors working in the contemporary British television industry. Through the analysis of interviews conducted with three female actors at different stages in their television careers, the chapter seeks to identify and better understand some of the factors which impact upon their health and well-being. Moreover, the chapter considers a number of individual differences that mediate the degree to which such factors are experienced as stressful and influence the development and employment of coping strategies. In addition to identifying a number of key coping mechanisms currently employed by these television actors, the chapter’s findings indicate that there is a need to address deep-rooted barriers to providing and seeking support presented by the existing industry culture. Consequently, the chapter calls for psychological well-being to be afforded the same level of significance and attention as physical health for television actors.