Your acting resume should leave casting directors eager to see you come in for an audition. It must convey your versatility, theatrical talent, and commitment to honing your craft. We’ll provide tips and strategies to help you create a resume that shines a spotlight on the show-stopping moments of your acting career.
Key takeaways:
A strong acting resume will clearly demonstrate the depth of your abilities and your past success on stage or on screen. To do this well, your resume should include these sections:
Your resume should clearly display all contact information so the hiring team can reach you for a callback. List your full name, phone number, email address, location, and online profiles or portfolios.
Your Name
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
City, State Abbreviation Zip Code
LinkedIn | Portfolio
Give the casting team a sneak preview of your resume with a brief summary of your acting experience and skills. Consider what directors are looking for and how you match the requirements of the role. Then, work this information into your profile, writing two to three sentences about your unique qualifications.
Mention your years in the industry and any special talents or awards. If you’ve performed internationally, describe that here. Or, perhaps you specialize in stunt work and physical acting — include this in your profile. A few compelling details will hook the reader and show how you’re uniquely qualified for the role.
Distinguished, award-winning actress with nearly 15 years in the industry and a PhD in theater and performance. Member of the National Association of Black Actors who excels in roles that demand deep emotional engagement and complex character arcs. Mentors aspiring actors and advocates for broader representation both on screen and behind the scenes.
Versatile actor who has performed in both television and theatrical productions over the last three years. Received the Young Artist Award for a leading role in “Dear Evan Hansen.” Adapts to classical or contemporary acting styles. Passionate about creating memorable performances. Working toward a bachelor’s degree in drama and theater at the University of California, Irvine.
This section will look slightly different than what comes standard in a basic resume template. Rather than provide a classic job description with bullet points of duties and accomplishments, you’ll create a three-column list outlining notable performances in chronological order. First, provide the production name, then the name of the part you played, and finally, the company name and year(s) performed.
If you’ve had roles in a combination of film, television, and theater productions, don’t combine them into one list. Instead, create separate sections for each category. This makes it easy for hiring managers to see how much experience you’ve had in different mediums.
TV
“Self-Taught” | Lady D.K. Williams | (2020) |
“In All Honesty” | Shelly Sanders | (2019 — 2023) |
“Crimson Collective” | Nurse Johnson | (2014 — 2015) |
Film
“Fearless” | Jennifer | (2022) |
“Confrontation” | Pattie Payne | (2021) |
“Force of Thunder” | Emilia Stinton | (2020) |
Every role you play or audition for is unique. Before submitting an application, tailor your resume to meet the specific needs of that role. This should be done for every opportunity you pursue. Just as you would modify your dialect or accent for a character, adjust the language of your resume. This will help get you past ATS programs and into the hands of casting directors.
Using keywords throughout your resume is one great way to do this. Identify key skills, experiences, and qualities mentioned in the casting call. Let’s say you’re applying for a part, and the ad mentions “strong stage presence” and “physical comedy.” Use these words and phrases as you describe your own relevant experiences.
Casting directors are used to seeing fresh talent without much on their resume, so start by working with what you have. If you majored in drama or participated in acting workshops, drama clubs, and improv groups, highlight this in your education section.
Even if you’ve been part of small plays or dance recitals as a kid, you can include those — any productions on stage or in front of a camera count. Also, focus on relevant skills you have, such as accents, languages, singing, or dancing.
Acting gigs may not require any formal education or special credentials the way other professions do. However, it’s still important to list your academic background, especially if you have performance training. Acting classes, workshops, drama school, and theater programs are all educational experiences you can include.
If you happen to have any memberships in unions or acting associations, mention it on your resume. This shows you’re actively involved in the community and serious about your work. Create a simple bulleted list with organization names and the years you joined.
Remember to include an additional section for awards to showcase the recognition you’ve received for your acting contributions. List the award title, issuing organization, and year earned.
Template:
[Degree Name]
[School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
Example:
Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Theatre
New York University, New York, NY | June 2018
Template:
[Title], [Organization], [Year Joined]
Examples:
Member, Actors’ Equity Association, 2019
Member, The Dramatists Guild of America, 2018
Template:
[Award Name] – [Production Name], [Awarding Organization], [Year Received]
Example:
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical – “The Phantom of the Opera,” Drama Desk, 2019
The skills section of your resume should highlight exactly what directors are looking for. Study your casting call before creating your resume to identify any required skills for the role. Then, match them up with your own abilities and include them in a key skills section. This will likely be a mix of hard and soft skills like those listed below.
Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
---|---|
Acting techniques (Stanislavski, Meisner, Method) | Adaptability |
Collaboration | Confidence |
Diction and accents | Emotional intelligence |
Improvisation | Makeup and costume |
Movement and body language | Resilience |
Script analysis | Singing |
Stage combat | Time management |
Vocal training | Vulnerability |
The best template for an acting resume is simple and clean. While it may be tempting to pick a flashy design, the priority for your resume should be readability. Casting directors quickly scan through applications and should be able to effortlessly identify the most important information. Choose a modern template with sophisticated fonts, minimalistic design elements, and a touch of color.
Your Name
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
City, State Abbreviation zip code
LinkedIn | Portfolio
Versatile actor who has performed in both television and theatrical productions over the last three years. Received the Young Artist Award for a leading role in “Dear Evan Hansen.” Adapts to classical or contemporary acting styles. Passionate about creating memorable performances. Working toward a bachelor’s degree in drama and theater at the University of California, Irvine.
“City of Shadows” | Mark Thompson | Universal Television (2023) |
“Tomorrow’s Secrets” | Alex Reed | Sony Pictures Television (2022) |
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” | Lysander | Los Angeles Playhouse (2022) |
“Romeo and Juliet” | Mercutio | Geffen Playhouse (2022) |
“Dear Evan Hansen” | Evan Hansen | Young Actors Theatre (2021) |
Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Drama and Theatre Arts, Expected: June 2025
University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA
Shakespeare Performance Workshop, Summer 2023
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), London, U.K.
To stand out from other applicants vying for the expected 9,000 yearly acting opportunities, your resume must align with the job description. Start by identifying the expectations, requirements, and preferences of the production company.
Emphasize projects that showcase the skills or genres relevant to the audition. This proves you’re serious about the role and studied what the casting team is looking for. For example, suppose they need someone who can perform complex choreography. In that instance, you would highlight any training in dance and previous roles where dance was significant.
The reverse chronological format is the best choice for an acting resume. Your past performances take the spotlight and prove this isn’t your first casting call. Work history is the focal point of this format, while your skills and education play a supporting role.
If you have less experience or you’ve only been cast as an extra, a combination resume is a good alternative. Instead of featuring past roles on center stage, your skills and training come first.
To present the full picture of who you are as an actor, craft a cover letter for each role you apply for. A cover letter is like the curtain raiser for your application, setting the tone for your resume. It’s a short narrative highlighting your most compelling acting experiences. Seize the opportunity to tell your unique story and explain what makes you the ideal cast member for their production.
ResumeTemplates offers free, HR approved resume templates to help you create a professional resume in minutes. Choose from several template options and even pre-populate a resume from your profile.