How do I use actions?

This will be a stupid question for most of you but how do I apply an action to a photo that I have. I stupidly thought actions were like filters. Tried it but it didn't work.

I loaded a few actions for adobe studio exchange but I don't know how to use them. Any help would be sooo appreciated.
Thank you so much

C.Brown

Notice the buttons at the bottom of the action palette? Press the play button after selecting an action

You loaded or downloaded?

Here is a thread with some links about actions (from the Photoshop Windows forum) <http://www.adobeforums.com/cgi-bin/webx?128@@.3bc1032e>

And have a read of the Photoshop manual while you're there too, it's pretty straight forward.