Unlike most industries, actors and actresses are assessed for potential casting call opportunities based on their professional portfolios and headshots. The effectiveness of your agent also plays an important factor in securing auditions. Your resume functions as a supplemental document detailing all of your previous roles, theater organizations, studios, and directors.
This gives casting directors a full overview of your acting career, most powerful performances, and most prominent skill sets, from character acting and singing to improvisation techniques. We’ll provide expert tips and insights to help you craft an impactful actor/actress resume.
Most Popular Actor/Actress Resumes
Musical Theater Actress Resume Example
Award-Winning Actress Resume Example
Film/TV Actor Resume Example
Acting Coach Resume Example
Drama Teacher Resume Example
Background Actor Resume Example
Voice Actor Resume Example
Dance Resume Example
Film Director Resume Example
Music Resume Example
Stage Manager Resume Example
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
Jamie’s resume demonstrates command of both administrative and artistic coordination by quantifying on-time performance starts and rehearsal efficiency. It also highlights strong communication skills across departments, critical for managing complex live events.
Key Tips
To showcase reliability, emphasize your organizational metrics, like 100% on-time show starts. For more on structuring your production experience, check out Resume Outline Examples.
Playwright Resume Example
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
Alex’s resume clearly links creative output—award-winning scripts—to measurable impacts like attendance growth. It also underscores mentorship and collaborative skills through workshop leadership, which are essential for theatrical development.
Key Tips
Highlight both creative achievements and audience metrics to demonstrate your impact. For advice on crafting a compelling summary, see Resume Summary Examples.
Choreographer Resume Example
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
Taylor’s resume quantifies artistic impact through award nominations and injury-rate reductions, demonstrating both creative vision and attention to dancer welfare. It also highlights versatility across dance genres and strong pedagogical skills.
Key Tips
Use percentages to highlight safety and performance improvements in your choreography. For more on showcasing your skills, visit Technical Skills for Resumes.
Casting Director Resume Example
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
Jordan’s resume pairs casting volume with a clear DEI outcome, demonstrating both scalability and social impact. The efficiency improvement from a database rollout further showcases process innovation in talent management.
Key Tips
Highlight both diversity outcomes and efficiency gains to underscore your strategic approach. For structuring your leadership achievements, see Best Resume Formats.
Sound Designer Resume Example
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
Morgan’s resume connects creative recognition—local awards—to technical proficiency with leading audio tools. The mentorship outcome, cutting post-production time, underscores leadership and efficiency in sound workflows.
Key Tips
Quantify both artistic awards and time savings to showcase dual impact. For more on technical skill presentation, visit Best Resume Formats.
Fight Choreographer Resume Example
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
Casey’s resume quantifies safety—zero injuries—while showcasing collaboration with creative teams across mediums. The mix of stage and film work demonstrates the versatility essential for action design.
Key Tips
Illustrate safety outcomes to underscore your reliability in high-risk staging. For more on structuring your experience, see How to Make a Resume.
Dialect Coach Resume Example
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
Drew’s resume ties dialect accuracy to audience feedback and process improvements, like a 25% reduction in coaching time, highlighting both artistic and efficiency gains.
Key Tips
Use audience or stakeholder metrics to demonstrate your coaching impact. For more on highlighting teaching achievements, see Resume Skills.
Props Master Resume Example
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
Chris’s resume combines fiscal responsibility with operational efficiency gains, such as a 60% error reduction, showcasing both managerial and technical strengths.
Key Tips
Quantify your budgetary accuracy and operational improvements to demonstrate reliability. For more on organizing your production résumé, check out Resume Outline Examples.
Lighting Designer Resume Example
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
Pat’s awards and uptime metrics underscore both artistic excellence and technical reliability. The integration of projection work demonstrates a forward-thinking approach to design.
Key Tips
Highlight both creative accolades and technical uptime to prove your dual strengths. For more on technical skills presentation, visit Technical Skills for Resume.
Costume Designer Resume Example
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
Sam’s resume pairs sustainability metrics—a 35% waste reduction—with revenue gains from a rental program, demonstrating both artistic vision and business acumen.
Key Tips
Quantify your eco-friendly initiatives and revenue-generating programs to stand out. For more on showcasing creative achievements, see Best Resume Formats.
Production Stage Manager Resume Example
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
Jamie’s resume highlights flawless cue calling and a 40% reduction in set-change errors, showcasing both reliability and leadership in high-pressure environments.
Key Tips
Focus on quantifiable backstage improvements to prove operational excellence. For guidance on structuring production résumés, check out Resume Outline Examples.
Opera Sound Designer Resume Example
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
Alex’s resume ties a 25% boost in engagement to creative soundscapes and a 30% reduction in setup time, illustrating both artistic and technical contributions.
Key Tips
Highlight audience or operational metrics to demonstrate the impact of your designs. For more on showcasing technical skills, see Technical Skills for a Resume.
Projection Designer Resume Example
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
Taylor’s resume emphasizes a 95% reliability rate and cross-department collaboration, demonstrating both creative vision and technical precision.
Key Tips
Use technical uptime statistics to prove your operational dependability. For more on presenting creative technology skills, visit Resume Skills.
Makeup & Wig Designer Resume Example
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
Jordan’s resume couples a 50% faster changeover with flawless continuity, showcasing both creative artistry and practical efficiency.
Key Tips
Quantify time savings and continuity successes to highlight your workflow optimization. For tips on listing specialized skills, see How to List Certifications on a Resume.
Production Manager Resume Example
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
Morgan’s résumé ties budget adherence within 2% and a 60% reduction in scheduling issues to managerial expertise, underscoring both fiscal discipline and organizational skill.
Key Tips
Include budget variance and conflict-reduction metrics to prove your leadership impact. For more on structuring management résumés, check out Best Resume Formats.
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Actor/Actress Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
How To Write an Actor/Actress Resume
1. Write a compelling profile summarizing your acting qualifications
When you’re looking for an acting job, regardless of the medium, someone seeks the right person to fill that role. To grab the attention of production studios, create an engaging opening summary that highlights your strongest performances and most prestigious roles. Also, feature relevant awards to make a lasting impression on the casting director.
Actor/Actress Professional Profile - Example 1
A dynamic actress with five years of experience performing in high-quality musical theater productions. Adept at utilizing improvisation techniques during high-pressure performances. Achieved recognition from local critics for the role of Laurey Williams in “Oklahoma!” Received vocal training from acclaimed Broadway actress Vera Cosgrove.
Actor/Actress Professional Profile - Example 2
An accomplished actor with over 10 years of experience performing in high-profile theater, film, and television, including “Black Mirror” and a Broadway “Hamlet” production. Achieved two best supporting actor nominations from the Screen Actors Guild for emotionally charged and dynamic performances.
2. Add an accomplishment-driven professional experience section
To generate auditions for acting roles, feature key performances to grab the attention of studios, theaters, and production companies. Unlike a typical resume, bullet points are unnecessary in most instances. Directors are much more interested in the roles you’ve played and the types of productions you’ve been involved with. Include this detail on your resume if you worked with a particularly prominent director.
Actor/Actress Professional Experience - Example 1
Theater
| “The Cocktail Party” | Lavinia Chamberlain | Thunderbolt Stage |
| “Children of a Lesser God” | Sarah Norman | Stage East |
| “A Man for All Seasons” | Margaret | Midwest Theater |
| “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” | Ginny Potter | Talbots Regional Theater |
| “Lady Windermere’s Fan” | Lady Windermere | Loyola Marymount University |
Actor/Actress Professional Experience - Example 2
Theater
| “Hamlet” | Hamlet | Lyric Theater |
| “Les Misérables” | Javert | Gershwin Theater |
Film/TV
| “Black Mirror” | Simon | Netflix Studios |
| “Between Truth and Lies” | Curtis | New Edge Productions |
| “The Twilight Zone” | Adam | Paramount Studios |
3. Include relevant education, training, and awards
It’s important to list your formal education and training on your resume. Casting directors may be impressed by the program you attended. They might also be familiar with the person who provided you with vocal or acting training. Also, feature your awards prominently on your resume. Audience and critic reviews are one of the most reliable indicators of the success of your performances.
Awards
Template
- [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example
- SAG Awards, best supporting actor in a limited series, “Black Mirror,” 2017
- Tony Awards, best supporting actor, Judas, “Jesus Christ Superstar,” 2016
Education
Template
- [Degree Name]
- [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] [Dates Enrolled]
Example
- Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Drama
- Columbia University, New York, NY September 2014 – June 2018
4. List relevant key skills and proficiencies
Unlike resumes for more traditional jobs, an actor’s resume will not be put through applicant tracking system (ATS) software. It’s almost certainly going to be first handled by a theater director or casting director for a film, TV series, or commercial. They want to see what work the actor has done in the past. It’s still beneficial to highlight key skills that directors will be looking for, including acting techniques and vocal ranges:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Acting | Alto |
| Baritone | Body language |
| Character acting | Contralto |
| Countertenor | Dancing |
| Drama | Facial expressions |
| Method acting | Mezzo-soprano |
| Musical acting | Musical theater |
| Singing | Soprano |
| Tap dancing | Team collaboration |
| Tenor | |
5. Include a headshot on your resume or separately
Although this can impact the format of your template, it is appropriate to include a headshot on an actor/actress’s resume. This would be inadvisable in standard instances due to the human resources (HR) implications, but this situation is different. Casting directors need to see what you look like to identify the role they want you to audition for.
How To Pick the Best Actor/Actress Resume Template
You have more flexibility when selecting templates for actor/actress roles in comparison to other industries. Because you won’t be featuring long, detailed bullet points, you can choose a template that you find compelling so long as the information is still well-organized on the page. One thing to avoid is the use of graphics, as they won’t add any value to your document and may distract the reader from your performance history.
Frequently Asked Questions: Actor/Actress Resume Examples and Advice
Should I use an Actor/Actress resume example even if I’m just starting my career?-
Yes, using an Actor/Actress resume example can provide guidance on structuring your resume, even if you’re at the beginning of your career. Focus on your internships, education, and skills that are transferable to the job you want. A strong entry-level resume example will highlight your potential and willingness to learn, making your limited experience a benefit.
How do you align your resume with a job description?-
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), acting jobs will grow 8% from 2021 to 2031. Although this level of growth is encouraging, statistics indicate there are only 7,000 new openings for actors and actresses each year. To maximize your chances of landing auditions, you’ll need to align your resume with the types of roles that casting directors are seeking to fill.
For example, if you’re seeking a part in a musical theater production on Broadway, prioritize those performances in your professional experience section. If you’re seeking an audition for a television or film role, draw attention to that aspect of your acting background in your professional profile. But if you lack the experience the casting director is looking for, emphasize your strongest and most compelling performances throughout your career.
What is the best actor/actress resume format?-
Actors and actresses use a different format style compared to most other industries. A reverse chronological approach is inapplicable here since your work experience doesn’t require a detailed explanation. In some ways, it’s similar to a functional resume, as it lacks detailed bullet points. There are key differences, however, as a functional resume format prioritizes skills, whereas an actor/actress resume is centered around your performances and awards.
How many pages should my actor/actress resume be?-
Generally, an actor/actress resume should be one page for candidates with fewer than 10 years of experience. A two-page resume is acceptable if you’re a seasoned professional with extensive accomplishments—but only if it provides meaningful details that strengthen your application. Tailor your content to the job, focusing on your most relevant qualifications.
Work history should typically cover the last 10 to 15 years. Older positions can be excluded or briefly summarized unless they’re highly relevant. A concise, focused resume demonstrates your ability to prioritize and communicate effectively.
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Although a cover letter is unlikely to be required for a casting call, there are rare instances where it might be worth including alongside your resume. One benefit to the cover letter is that it enables you to show your passion for acting using different language and more detail. If you’re familiar with the director’s work, mention something about a previous production and why you’re excited about the opportunity to work with them. For more insights, visit our acting cover letter guide.
