Well, if you haven't acted in school plays and high school drama classes, you can do classes and/or productions through your local community colleges theatre arts/drama programs, in community theatre, and in films made by Film Students at local universities without any prior experience (all of these performances are
acceptable on a resume).

Deciding Whether to Take an Acting Job (730 words)
By Julian Kelly

"Chad: I've completed 46 weeks in the Equity Membership Candidacy program. I'm a San Diego actor, and there is very little Equity work available here. Is it worth it to become Equity or is it the kiss of death? I have two friends who haven't been able to get any work since turning Equity (and one of them lives in NYC)! - Sherri Wysnewski"