Casting Director Renee Godbout on how a simple makeover can open up a world of opporunity

Are you ready to make a serious career comeback? Well, a successful comeback is all about change.

If you’re in a rut and are having problems getting noticed, it’s time for you to make a drastic change. All you need to change the minds and attitudes of producers and yourself!

Be prepared to market yourself in different ways and be open to the new roles you will be auditioning for. Look at yourself in a different way and keep your confidence up. You may find a niche you never knew you fit into!

Check out these ways to change up your look and start the next phase of your career!

If you’re overweight, then dedicate yourself to losing those extra pounds. A whole new set of roles will open up to you. Just ask Valerie Bertinelli, who, after having a quiet 5 years, is guest starring on Boston Legal and getting ready to star in her own comedy pilot for TBS.

Pretend it’s makeover day on America's Next Top Model and get a completely new haircut or color. I worked with a male actor once from Hawaii who had long hair and lots of tattoos. He was often cast as the bad boy prisoner type, but after cutting off his hair and putting on a suit, I started casting him as a businessman and finding more roles he could fit into. I also had a female actor who was stuck playing “edgy” roles. Her look wasn’t very versatile until she ditched her bleached blonde hair and went more natural.

Men, it’s all about your facial hair. If you’ve had a beard for a while, it’s time to remember what you looked like clean-shaven. But if you’re always being looked at as a teenager and passed over for more adult roles, a little scruff may be exactly what you are looking for.

Learn a new skill. If you’re sick of seeing casting notices for principle ballroom dancers, go take classes and learn! It’s never too late to learn a new skill. Have you ever noticed how popular the show Dancing with the Stars is? These celebrities are learning new skills while at the same time making a big comeback.

With every new look, you also need a new headshot and resume. So be sure you’re making the right changes and that you’re prepared to spend some money to showcase your new look. If you have an agent or manager, make sure you sit down and discuss everything with them first. But if you’re really ready to make a change, just go for it and don’t be afraid to show off your new self!

Renee Godbout - Freelance Casting Director. Renee Godbout recently worked on the first season of The CW's popular teen show Gossip Girl at Grant Wilfey Casting. Some past projects include 2 seasons of Law & Order: Criminal Intent, the pilot for Dirty Sexy Money, and the upcoming Jonathan Demme-directed Dancing with Shiva.

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