Do you need to be selfish to succeed as an actor… or is that just insecurity in disguise?

We break down confidence, ego, and the real behaviors that shape a career in the room.

In this episode of The Working Actor NYC, we tackle a deceptively simple question: do you have to be selfish to succeed as an actor? What starts as a surprising on-set interaction quickly opens up a deeper conversation about confidence, status signaling, and the fine line between self-belief and ego. From actors subtly “flashing credentials” to moments of bold self-positioning in the room, we unpack what these behaviors actually mean—and whether they help or hurt in a collaborative industry.

Along the way, we break down real audition struggles, including a listener-submitted story about a dance call gone wrong, and explore the me ...