The industry is changing. If you look at the top of the IMDB charts or browse your Netflix "Trending Now" rail, you’ll notice something weird. It’s not just the $20 million-per-movie A-listers or the totally unknown background extras. There is this massive, thriving middle class of medium actors who are basically holding the entire streaming economy together. Honestly, they are the ones doing the heavy lifting right now.
Think about someone like Stephen Root or Margo Martindale. You know their faces. You definitely know their voices. But they aren't leading $200 million Marvel movies every summer. They are the quintessential "medium" players—performers who have built sustainable, high-impact careers by being incredibly reliable, versatile, and, frankly, affordable for studios that are currently tightening their belts.
🔗 Read more: Why Hangar 1: The UFO Files Still Bothers People Ten Years Later
The term "medium" isn't an insult. It's a strategic tier.
What it actually means to be a medium actor today
Let's get real about the hierarchy. For decades, the industry was binary. You were either a "Star" or you were "Working." But the explosion of prestige TV and limited series created a third lane. A medium actor is usually someone who can headline an indie film, play the third lead in a blockbuster, or anchor a 10-episode series on Apple TV+. They have high "Q Scores" among critics and hardcore fans, but they can still walk through a grocery store without being mobbed by paparazzi.
It's a sweet spot.
They bring credibility. When a casting director sees a medium actor on a list, they see a "safe bet." These actors don't require the massive marketing spend of a Tom Cruise, yet they guarantee a certain level of performance that elevates the entire production.
The pay structure has shifted, though. Back in the day, a solid character actor could make a killing on residuals. Now? Residuals from streaming are... well, they’re complicated. And usually much lower. This has forced actors in this tier to work more frequently, jumping from project to project to maintain the same lifestyle their predecessors had in the 90s.
The "That Guy" phenomenon is evolving
We used to call them "That Guys." You'd see them on screen and say, "Oh, it's that guy from that thing!"
Social media changed that. Now, fans follow these actors on Instagram and TikTok. They know their names. They know their political leanings. They know what kind of coffee they drink. This digital footprint has actually helped push many performers from "working class" into the "medium" category because they bring a pre-packaged audience to a project.
Take someone like Kathryn Hahn. For years, she was the secret weapon of every comedy she touched. She was the definition of a high-level medium actor. Then, WandaVision happened, and suddenly the industry had to re-categorize her. That’s the goal for most people in this bracket: use the steady work to find that one "breakout" role that shifts the leverage back into their hands.
The economics of being in the middle
Hollywood is currently obsessed with "efficiency."
The era of the $100 million overall deal for a single star is cooling off. Studios want to spread their risk. If they can hire five highly respected medium actors for the price of one A-lister, they often will. It makes sense from a business perspective. You get five different fanbases and five different sets of press opportunities for the price of one.
But it’s a grind.
I’ve talked to agents who represent people in this tier, and the consensus is that the "middle" is shrinking. You’re either a huge star or you’re struggling. To stay in the medium tier, you have to be incredibly savvy about which roles you take. You can't just take every paycheck; if you do three bad VOD action movies in a row, your stock drops. You have to balance the "one for them, one for me" philosophy.
One for them: A recurring role on a procedural like Law & Order.
One for me: A gritty, low-budget drama that might get a look at Sundance.
Why casting directors love them
Casting is an art, but it’s also risk management.
When a project is in pre-production, the biggest fear is a lead who can’t carry the emotional weight of the script. Medium actors are the insurance policy. They are the professionals who show up with their lines memorized, understand the technical aspects of hitting a mark, and don't have "diva" melvins.
💡 You might also like: Why Down by Jay Sean is Still the Defining Moment for Asian Artists in Global Pop
Real talk: sometimes a director just wants someone who won't hold up production.
In a world where shooting days cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, a medium actor who can nail a complex scene in two takes is worth their weight in gold. Actors like Shea Whigham or Ann Dowd are legendary for this. They make everyone else on set look better.
The impact of the 2023 strikes on the middle class
You can't talk about the state of acting without mentioning the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes. For the medium actor, those months on the picket line were about one thing: survival.
The strike wasn't really about the top 1%. It was about the people who are 10th on the call sheet. They were fighting for better streaming residuals and protections against AI. If a studio can just "scan" a medium-tier actor and use their likeness in perpetuity, that actor's career is essentially over.
There’s a lot of anxiety right now.
Even with the new contracts, the industry is "right-sizing." There are fewer shows being greenlit. This means the competition for those medium-tier roles is fiercer than it has ever been. You have former movie stars who can't get film work anymore "playing down" into TV roles that used to go to character actors. It's a crowded house.
Navigating the AI threat
Let's get into the weeds on AI for a second. It's not just about "replacing" actors. It's about "enhancing" them.
For a medium actor, the threat is that their specific niche—the reliable, non-star role—is the easiest to automate. Need a "grumpy detective" for two scenes? A studio might try to use a digital composite.
The defense against this is "soul."
The reason we love actors like Walton Goggins or Colman Domingo is the weird, unpredictable human choices they make. AI struggles with "weird." It does "average" perfectly, but it can't replicate the specific, jittery energy of a human being who is actually feeling the stakes of a scene.
How to actually sustain a career as a medium actor
If you're looking at this from a career perspective, the path is no longer linear. You don't just "get an agent and wait."
- Diversify the income. Most successful medium actors have a side hustle that isn't embarrassing. Maybe it's a production company. Maybe it's a high-end podcast. Maybe it's voice-over work for video games.
- Build a "niche." Be the person people call when they need "intense but vulnerable." Or "sarcastic best friend with a secret." Specificity is the best job security.
- Move to where the work is. It’s not just LA and NYC anymore. Atlanta, Vancouver, and even London are massive hubs for the medium-tier work.
- Relentless networking. This sounds gross, but it's true. Most roles in this bracket are cast because a director remembered someone they worked with five years ago on a short film.
The reality is that the medium actor is the backbone of the industry. They provide the texture and the reality that makes a story believable. Without them, movies are just shiny, hollow shells.
What to look for next
Watch the credits.
Next time you're watching a show and you see a performance that sticks with you—someone who isn't the face on the poster—look them up. See what else they've done. You'll likely find a trail of incredible work in projects you've never heard of. That is the hallmark of the medium-tier professional.
They aren't chasing fame. They’re chasing the work.
In a world obsessed with influencers and "content creators," there is something deeply respectable about the person who just wants to be a great actor. They might never win an Oscar, and they might never have a private jet, but they are the ones who make the art worth watching.
🔗 Read more: Why All 62 Original Goosebumps Books in Order Still Give Us the Chills
To stay ahead in this shifting landscape, actors must lean into their unique human quirks that AI can't touch. Building a personal brand that emphasizes "reliability plus high-level craft" is the only way to stay relevant as the industry continues to consolidate. Focus on the craft, keep the ego in check, and stay ready. The middle is a tough place to be, but it's also where the most interesting stories are told.