As an actor, you’ve taken on countless characters and brought them to life in your own unique way. Your ability to tell a story and portray it is unmatched, and you inspire a sense of wonder in those who watch your work.
Whether you’re just starting out or you’re an experienced performer, using a high-quality CV template and a convenient cover letter generator can help you get your foot in the door. However, it can be challenging to choose the right things to say when sending out applications for new acting jobs.
We’ve worked with actors like you and helped them land the roles of their dreams. Our acting CV examples and CV tips are a great resource, so have a look!
Why this CV works
- If you’re having trouble fitting all your past roles on your actor CV, prioritise the ones that utilised special skills.
- For example, this CV highlights a performance in West Side Story, which required the actor to speak in a trained New York City accent.
Why this CV works
- Child acting roles might seem plentiful, but that doesn’t make securing a part easy unless your child’s CV demonstrates they’ve stepped out of their comfort zone to enhance their acting skills.
- A “Training” section is essential for a child beginner acting CV. To truly impress casting directors searching for young talents, be sure to mention the skills they have acquired and their instructors (they’ll earn more brownie points if the coaches are reputable).
Why this CV works
- Trying to secure your first major role means you need every advantage you can get. List lead roles at the top of your beginner acting CV, then work down to supporting performances.
Why this CV works
- As an established actor, past performances speak for themselves. However, to make the most significant impact, let your awards section shine by highlighting its connection to your major roles.
- Your professional actor CV can help you secure specialised roles by highlighting your strengths. If you won an award for period acting, emphasise performances where you utilised that skill to illustrate your expertise.
Why this CV works
- With a theatre acting CV highlighting your work in film, new media, and TV, you are well on your way to landing that dream role. But hang on, before you start practising your acceptance speech, there’s one crucial step you can’t afford to overlook—make sure the recruiter can get in touch with you if you.
- Place your contact details right at the top of your CV. Now, regarding that email address (something like [email protected]) which might have been cool once, it’s time to upgrade to something sleek, professional, and unmistakably you, like [email protected]. Double-check to ensure your current phone number is included as well.
Why this CV works
- For a voice actor CV, you won’t avoid the constant question of how you’ve utilised your vocal capabilities to add value to past and current projects. So, come prepared to impress recruiters with innovative vocal skills.
- To stand out from the other candidates, include a specific section about your vocal attributes. For this, focus on unique qualities that present you as a strong contender.
Why this CV works
- Apart from your education in theatre and relevant training, what else would make your commercial acting CV an instant attraction for marketing and advertising project managers?
- Well, it’s about what you’re contributing in terms of talent and experiences in related projects. Don’t hesitate to list your top acting roles and clearly explain what you did in each project. Even better, include clips of your work to give recruiters something to consider.
Related CV examples
Tailor Your Acting CV to Match the Role
In your profession, there truly is no such thing as a “one size fits all” CV—each acting job calls for a different set of skills, so it’s important to mix and match.
Emphasise the skills that accurately describe your acting style. For example, if you’ve mastered several different accents or are good at improvisation, highlight it in your CV. Avoid being vague and really focus on acting-specific terms, discussing your ability to learn lines and delve deep into a character’s psyche.
However, make sure to carefully read the advert and see if there are any skills you could be adding. The genre of the acting job will tell you a lot here—if you’re applying to act in a comedy, talk about your punchline timing, but you can swap that out for a melodrama.
Need some inspiration?
15 top acting skills
- Voice Projection
- Dancing
- Accents
- Languages
- Voice Modulation
- Character Research
- Singing
- Script Analysis
- Emotional Expression
- Cultural Awareness
- Rehearsal Pro Software
- Scene Improvisation
- Monologue Performance
- Cold Reading
- Breathing Control
Your acting work experience bullet points
This part of your CV will vary greatly depending on the extent of your acting background, but in any case, it should be a selection of your greatest achievements.
Use this space to discuss plays, adverts, shows, web series, or films you’ve been involved in. List the name of the production you were in, the character or role you played, and the director or the theatre if it was a play.
Unlike a CV for a different kind of job, such as a project manager, you don’t need to include traditional work experience bullet points. The goal is to highlight your experience as an actor instead.
Here are a few suggestions:
- Focus on your acting experience here—you can leave out mentioning other jobs. If you don’t have a professional background as an actor, things like school plays or hobby workshops are relevant!
- Include the roles you’re really proud of and swap them in and out based on the new acting job you’re applying for, showcasing either your versatility or your specialisation in a specific genre.
- It’s also a good idea to include a “Training” section where you can discuss workshops, courses, and directors you’ve trained under.
- If you’ve received any awards, you can also include them in a separate “Awards” section.
Here are some examples of how you can showcase your acting experience:
- Pride and Prejudice, Lead, Dir. Ralph Pusey
- Infinite High, Supporting, Dir. Clarence Jones
- West Side Story, Bernardo, Gershwin Theatre
- Beauty and the Beast, Lumiere, Imperial Theatre
- Sherlock Holmes, Supporting, Dir. Brenda Tanner
3 Tips for Writing an Acting CV if You’re Just Starting Out
- All experience is valuable experience
- You don’t need to be a film star to get invited to auditions. If your experience is limited, anything counts. Mention acting workshops, school plays, or even a different background in the arts, such as singing or poetry reading.
- Include specialised training
- If you have any formal education in acting, highlight it in your CV. This includes a university degree, but also specialised courses, such as a voice and speech course or martial arts. Certificates are great too, such as improvisation or voice-over training.
- Include examples (if possible)
- It’s important to express your skills in a one-page CV, but it’s equally crucial to give the casting director something else to go by. If you can, include a short video or audio when you send your application. This can be a past performance or something made just for this role.
3 Tips for Writing an Acting CV if You’ve Got Some Past Experience
- Demonstrate your adaptability
- At this stage in your career, you’ve portrayed a range of characters, so showcase it! Discuss how your cultural awareness helped you portray a complex character, or how your attendance at rehearsals enabled you to deliver a flawless performance in an emotional scene.
- Never send the same CV twice
- As an established actor, build a CV to match the job still goes a long way. It shows that you care about this particular role and are willing to dedicate yourself to it.
- Don’t be afraid to boast a little
- If you’ve received any awards, don’t hesitate to highlight them. No award is too small or too large to mention, as they all showcase your exceptional ability to portray various characters, which is a guaranteed way to impress casting directors. Choose a CV template that allows you to include your awards, and ensure you link them to your previous roles.
It’s highly beneficial if you’re applying for a role in the media. If you have a following, no matter the size, then add your profiles beneath your contact information.
Outside of voice acting, this is quite essential. Casting directors will expect you to include your weight, height, eye colour, and hair length and colour. You should also attach headshots or a video made specifically for the role.
Gauge the scope of the role and try to select the skills you possess that suit it perfectly. Be specific—instead of just saying “stage performance,” consider what makes you a good performer, such as your ability to deliver monologues or mime.
