I assume that actors are just people, and for some of them there just isn't enough money to do some things.

Actors are, of course, people. They are also people who work for money, and in many cases it's for a lot of it. Which is fine. You'll never see an actor say in an interview "Nah, I wouldn't do that again! The pay was shite!" - more like some kind of junket thing of "The work was really tiring". Well, I say never - it happens, but it's rare.

Personally, I thought Chris did an excellent job, and if they'd offered him sack fulls to return I'd be happy and gleeful.

I remember hearing he said he left because he didn't want to be typecast. Who knows.

that's the reason i heard too, KernelM. to that i say "whatever". at least you're getting work. who cares if you're typecast?

I believe every "Doctor" who has taken the role for the past 20 years hasn't worked since, and a lot of them do conventions each year now. Which is obviously a concern. The UK is a pretty insular market - if you're hot you do a short stint on a popular BBC or ITV show, and if you're not you last on them forever (Corry, Eastenders) or end up on The Bill or Hollyoaks.

The few people who have 'broken out' of the UK market (to much pay) have been those who've done something popular on the BBC, and then quit, and done things in the US. Which, as it happens, Chris is doing at the mo.

There was an article somewhere that implied that Eccleston didn't get along with someone in the production. Not like they were having screaming matches, but that he wasn't exactly thrilled to go to work.

I believe every "Doctor" who has taken the role for the past 20 years hasn't worked since,

Well the show wasn't on for the past decade. If you mean the 20 years prior to 1996, McCoy and Colin Baker haven't done a whole lot on TV, but Davison and Tom Baker certainly have.

I stand corrected, Strega.

You would be surprised at how low some of the actors who are recognizable are paid. Most actors are lucky if they can make a modest living. Getting a series or movie is a good way to make the rent. The big names make the bucks, but those jobs are the cream of the crop. It's a very volitile career, and it's only slightly above, and sometimes below being a temp worker for Kelly services. Like temp work, it's the time between jobs that'll kill your soul, sometimes.

Even after the first two admittedly low-budget Evil Dead movies, Bruce Campbell worked as a security guard. In his book "If Chins Could Kill" he wrote about the day a co worker finally recognized him.

Good book, btw, I recommend it.

Look at me, talking as if I actually kept up with the acting thing. I did look into the prospects when I was in college, and I haven't heard anthing here or from my reading that says it had changed in any revolutionary way.

Did I miss anything? I'm sure the working actors on the board could verify most of this, or call me pretentious and point and laugh.

ETA: On the other hand, pay scale and all? One gets to act for a career. How cool is that?

No, I think it's pretty much like that. Has been for my brother, at least.

..who appeared in both the Firefly pilot and the BDM, to bring it on-topic and sluuuuut at the same time.