Introduction and aim: Despite numerous studies on praise and criticism, there is a significant gap in research focused on these phenomena within the context of art, particularly in the lives of actors. Artists, including actors, often receive more praise and criticism than individuals in other professions. Therefore, the present study aims to explore acting students’ experiences with praise and criticism. The purpose of the study is to understand the potential effects of positive and negative feedback on different aspects of acting students’ lives, such as self-confidence, perceived ability, or coping strategies. Methods: Seventeen in-person semi-structured interviews were conducted with current and former acting students in Split. The data were analysed using a general inductive approach, guided by codebook-based thematic analysis. Results: Based on the interviews, six main themes and 26 subthemes were developed including (1) Academic challenges, (2) Hardships in the acting world, (3) Sources of praise and criticism, (4) Processing and reflecting on feedback. (5) Coping with feedback and (6) The significance of praise and criticism in life Discussion: This research offers new insights into the impact of feedback in the context of acting, bridging gaps in existing literature. The study advances our understanding of feedback dynamics in the arts and opens new directions for theoretical and practical applications. It underscores the importance of targeted education for both students and educators on the role and influence of feedback in the performing arts, as well as the need to provide appropriate support. Future research should aim to delve deeper into this topic, moving beyond the descriptive level to explore the underlying meanings. It should also seek to integrate existing knowledge to develop theoretical models that address the unique challenges faced by artists.