The Story

Built Through Challenge.
Shared With Purpose.

Hi, I’m Derek.

Actor, acting coach, and founder of The Acting Masters. But more than that… I’m someone who knows what it’s like to fight for a future that feels a million miles away — and build something out of nothing.

An extraordinary life isn’t built in the spotlight it’s built in the quiet struggles no one sees. For Derek Barr, acting wasn’t just a passion; it was a lifeline. A way to express what words couldn’t, and to connect when life felt out of reach.

Where It Really Started

I didn’t grow up with industry connections. No family in TV. No secret fast-track. I didn’t even know anyone who worked in film or theatre But I did know pain — and I had a fire to express it.

As a child, I was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, a painful autoimmune condition that often made walking difficult — sometimes impossible. While other kids were out playing, making memories, and living life… I was stuck indoors, in hospital beds, and falling behind.

I felt left behind physically and emotionally. But deep down, something else was growing

Imagination. Creativity. Expression.

The first time I stepped into a drama class, everything changed. Acting gave me freedom. It gave me a voice. It gave me a reason to get up in the morning. And for the first time in my life, I felt alive

From Survival to Screen

I Didn’t Just Learn to Act — I Learned to Fight for It.

I started like most actors: one-liners in soaps, day-player roles, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moments.

But I treated every single one like it mattered. Every set was my classroom. Every line was a chance to learn. That mindset took me from survival mode to working alongside Stephen Graham in Little Boy Blue… and acting opposite Sir Kenneth Branagh in This England. These weren’t just credits. They were proof: No matter where you start, growth is possible when you stay consistent, stay coachable, and stay committed.

But even as my career grew, I couldn’t ignore what I was seeing all around me…

The Turning Point

I Was Growing… But I Saw Too Many Actors Staying Stuck.

Talented actors. Hardworking actors. Committed actors.
Still not getting anywhere — not because they lacked talent, but because they lacked guidance.

No mentor. No roadmap. No real strategy.

I knew exactly how that felt. I’d lived it. And I couldn’t stand watching it happen to others.

The Birth of The Acting Masters

I started coaching between my own shoots — at first in private sessions, then in small programs

It grew faster than I imagined. Soon it became a full platform for actors across the world.

Now, The Acting Masters is a global training community helping actors build sustainable screen acting careers through:

No hype. No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just the work that moves you forward.

We focus on the three pillars that actually move the needle:

Craft

Clear, modern training for screen performance

Mind

Confidence, motivation, and emotional resilience

Business

Casting strategy, branding, agents, and visibility

No hype. No fluff. No gatekeeping.
Just real tools. Real coaching. Real transformation.

️ Why I Do This

I Know What It’s Like to Wonder If You’ll Ever Get Your Shot.

I know what it’s like to feel invisible. To question if you’re good enough. To doubt whether your big break will ever come

But here’s what I’ve learned: You don’t need permission. You don’t need perfection. You just need a path — and someone who’s walked it to show you the way

That’s why I built The Acting Masters. Not just to teach acting — but to walk alongside you as you build your career, step into your confidence, and take full ownership of your potentia

If You’re Ready to Build Something Real, You’re in the Right Place

I’ve been where you are. I’ve walked the same uncertain path. And I won’t stop until you get where you want to go

If You’re Ready to Build Something Real,
You’re in the Right Place

What Derek learned — both from the industry and from his own life — is that resilience isn’t built in comfort.

It’s built through challenge. And when you’ve fought your way through pain, isolation, and uncertainty — you show up differently. You coach differently. You lead differently.

That’s why The Acting Masters exists:

To make sure no actor has to navigate this path alone.

I know what it feels like to be sidelined.

To feel invisible. To wonder if you’ll ever get your shot.

That’s why I created this not just to teach acting.

But to walk with actors as they become the version of themselves.

And I won’t stop until you get there.