Have you ever worked with impossible, egotisical actors?

Question

What, in your opinion, makes a person obnoxious like that?

Answer 1

Lots of the arrogant theatre people attack others to make them start doubting themselves.  If they can do that, then they think they have better chances at auditions.  Either they'll get your self esteem so low you won't even audition or you'll do a poor job.  Other times they think they're so talented you should feel blessed to walk on the very ground they tread upon.  Most of the time it's a combination of both.

Answer 2

Yes - I'm a stage manager and I've struck my fair share of impossible actors.  It's never those who have earned the right to be divas who are - the incredibly talented and hugely experienced are almost always the nicest people to work with.  It's those who have an inflated opinion of their own abilities and who see themselves as better than the crew who are egotistical and impossible.  I work with actors ranging from those straight out of drama school through to those who have been successful in the business for upwards of forty years, and it's the young guys straight out of school that give me the most trouble.  Usually their attitudes change when they realise it is costing them work though!  

Oddly enough, also, it's those in amateur theatre who often treat the crew the worst - I came up through the am-dram ranks before going professional, and some of the actors I worked with on am-dram shows treated the crew (and other actors) like the scum of the earth.  I'm not saying that all amateur actors are awful (some of them are absolutely lovely!), but because they don't have to make a living out of it they don't necessarily have the attitude that you need to be a successful actor.