The Halifax native says "by a fluke" he ended up with the youth section of the Charlottetown Festival in P. E. I. and spent the summer learning and performing.

'It took about a week to get my bearings, then suddenly I realized I was with one of the top summer theater festivals in Canada," he said in an interview during a break from a rehearsal of Neptune's Beauty and the Beast, in which he plays Gaston.

"That summer my life flipped around. I knew I wanted to be a performer."

After that summer, he moved to Toronto and has spent the last 13 years travelling the country working in productions from Vancouver to St. John.s, N. L.

"You don't choose this craft. It chooses you. If a young person doesn't know without a shadow of a doubt that they want to be a performer, they should keep looking. It's a long, hard road, filled with rejection, but if you know it is meant to be, go for it and don't let anyone get in your way."

The biggest sacrifice that goes with being an actor is financial, he said.

Most actors live below the poverty line and often have to work other jobs to make ends meet. Mr. Cournoyer said he has been able to find consistent acting assignments and hopes to branch out as a singer. He will be promoting his first CD, a collection of soft jazz standards, following the close of Beauty and the Beast.

Even if he doesn't make a lot of money, Mr. Cournoyer said there is incredible satisfaction in going to work every day and being able to tell stories and help people escape from their lives.

Want to know more about acting as a career? Read on

NATURE OF THE WORK

Actors entertain people through their interpretation of dramatic roles. They read scripts and, through facial and verbal expression as well as body movement, create a unique personality and character. They may be required to sing or dance, depending on the role.

Acting teachers train students in interpreting scripts, teach them about speech, movement and dramatic theory, and help them to prepare for acting auditions.

SKILLS

To work as an actor, you should be dedicated, motivated and willing to accept constructive criticism. Talent, creativity and technical skills are essential. You must be comfortable working with others and performing before an audience. Self- discipline and a good business sense are also helpful.

EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS

Success as an actor depends upon on your talent, perseverance and performance experience. Early and intensive training is an advantage. Your ability, as demonstrated by an audition or previous roles, is the key hiring criterion. Acting programs are offered at universities, colleges or private acting schools. Membership in a union or guild may be required.

WORK PROSPECTS

There are many types of roles for actors in Nova Scotia within the film industry and as stage actors. Nova Scotia is the fourth- largest film production centre in Canada. The popularity of Nova Scotia as a filming destination has been aided by government- funded tax credits to support and entice the industry to our shores.

However, prospects for this industry fluctuate over time and are heavily influenced by the cost- effectiveness of filming here.

Such factors as a strong Canadian dollar can dramatically reduce the number of foreign productions.

Stage work in Nova Scotia tends to be more time- intensive than film work and pays somewhat less. Stage productions are heavily influenced by the availability of government funds to support the arts and cultural sector.

Many actors who work as professional performers also hold other employment to supplement their income. Both part- time employment and self- employment are common for this occupation.

The development of digital industries in Nova Scotia may provide new opportunities for actors, from the voice on video games to cellphones.

Prospects for occupations in this industry are rated as fair in the com­ing years. However, depending on a number of factors, this could change rather quickly

LABOUR MARKET INFORMATION

Outlook: Fair
Employment in 2005: 260
Estimated average annual number of job openings: 7 Earnings in 2005 ranged from $ 7.25 to $ 20 hourly, with an average of $ 11.25.

WHERE ARE THE JOBS?

Annapolis Valley 4.5%
Cape Breton 4.5%
Halifax 77.3%
North Shore 4.5%
Southern N. S. 9.1%

Almost one- third of actors in Nova Scotia are employed part time and 38% are self- employed. More than three- quarters are based in Halifax.

More than one- third of actors are between the ages of 15 and 24. As a group, actors are well- educated. Forty per cent have at least a high school diploma and 49 per cent have some form of post- secondary education.

TYPICAL JOBS

Actor, comedian, drama teacher. Related occupations: announcers and other broadcasters, musicians, dancers, buskers, entertainers and models.