The only way to be paid well as an actor: Why I became a lawyer

• Author: Yashoda Ranganathan
• Pages: 47-51

47

g SUMMER 2014

WHY I BECAME A LAWYER

YASHODA RANGANATHAN1

People often ask me why I decided to leave my career as a

professional actor and become a lawyer. I am always surprised at

this question. I believe that, aside from the obvious nancial con-

siderations, acting and advocacy are similar crafts.

At the core of both crafts is the mastery of persuasion.

The advocate must persuade you of the merits of her case; the actor

must rst persuade you that he is a depressed Prince of Denmark and

then persuade you of the merits of his case. In short, the actor’s job is

harder, if not better compensated.

SPEAK TRUTH

Some people accuse advocates and actors of deception. This is a mis-

conception. Truth is all that an advocate or actor can oer. The truth is

what persuades.

An actor must believe the truth of his role. Similarly, an advocate

must nd and believe the truth of her position. If necessary, an advocate

must assume a role in order to speak from a place of truth. Eective

advocacy requires this.

1 The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily

reect those of the Ministry of the Attorney General or the Government of Ontario.

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