Acting Resume Examples and Templates for 2024

Acting Resume Examples and Templates (Downloadable)

• Entry level
• Midlevel
• Senior level

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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:

• Highlight acting expertise: Start strong with a resume summary showcasing your acting range and specializations to immediately grab the attention of casting teams.
• Detail notable performances: When listing your previous roles, select the most recent and relevant productions, especially those in which you earned an award or recognition.
• Include ATS-friendly keywords: Applicant tracking systems (ATS) search applications for keywords mentioned in casting calls and job postings, so include a few in your resume.

How To Write an Acting Resume Example

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:

• Contact information
• Profile
• Key skills
• Professional experience
• Education, memberships, and awards

1. Share your contact information

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.

2. Craft a solid profile with a summary of your acting qualifications

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.

3. Showcase your acting experience

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.

Resume writer’s tip: Tailor your resume for each application

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.

What if you don’t have experience?

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.

4. Outline your acting-related education, memberships, and awards

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.

5. Outline your most useful acting skills and proficiencies

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.

How To Pick the Best Acting Resume Template

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.

Acting Text-Only Resume Examples and Templates

Frequently Asked Questions: Acting Resume Examples and Advice

How do you align your resume with an acting job description?

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.

What is the best acting resume format?

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.

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Andrew Stoner

Executive Resume Writer and Career Coach

Andrew Stoner is an executive career coach and resume writer with 17 years of experience as a hiring manager and operations leader at two Fortune 500 Financial Services companies, and as the career services director at two major university business schools.