Acting Resume Examples: 5 Best Samples & Why They Work

Are you dreaming of being a successful actor but you’re having difficulties working on your resume?

Don’t worry! Since acting is a unique job, a lot of people don’t know how to write a suitable resume in the field.

Preparing a good resume increases your chances of getting an audition to show your talent, and luckily, it’s very easy once you know all the basics!

To help you with that, this guide will walk you through different resume template examples to help you get inspired!

Acting Resume With No Experience Examples

Although you might not need a resume for acting if you already had a few roles, having a resume is critical at first.

This is because it introduces you to a casting director and explains who you are and whether you’re suitable for the role you’re after.

In this section, we’ll take a closer look at 5 different professional resume samples and why they work.

First-Time Acting Resume Example

A first-time acting resume is suitable for older teenagers and adults who are applying to a casting agency.

Since there’s no previous acting experience, you’ll need to list your current work experience and any training or potential skills that qualify you for an acting career.

Model (March 2018 – Current)

• Worked as a fashion model for over 15 agencies and clients
• Walked several runways with poise for Summer and Fall collections for big clients like Custo Barcelona and Vita Coco
• Commended by multiple agencies for always showing up on time for bookings
• Shadowed multiple professional fashion models to expand my knowledge of the field and how to stay presentable in front of a camera
• Posed for various photoshoots for fashion outlets and entertainment magazines

Radio Host (2020 – Current)

• Prepared and hosted a weekly live radio show with multiple guests, which improved my conversational skills and increased radio channel listenership by 5%
• Stayed informed with current social affairs and the latest entertainment news
• Interacted with the audience and build a following base by engaging with callers
• Researched new topics and wrote scripts for the podcast to discuss with hosts and audience
• Prepared and delivered multiple on-air promotions and commercials as instructed by the show director.

Project Experience and Training

• Received acting training at The San Francisco Acting Academy, including Screen Acting, improv, and Scene Study.
• Participated in various classical plays hosted by the Academy (lead and supporting)
• Starred in six college theater productions

Skills

• Excellent voice training
• Good with accents
• Can speak Spanish
• Communicator
• Playing the guitar

Education

• Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theater) from The University of Idaho (2015)
• Associate degree in Theater and Acting from The Community College of Philadelphia (2010)

Licenses & Accreditations

• Acting Masterclass
• Best Fashion Model by Retro Walk Agency

Why This Resume Works

There are multiple reasons why this acting CV is a great example of how a first-time professional actor’s resume should be.

Although the aspiring actor is auditioning for his first-ever professional, all the information listed in this resume explains why he’s a good fit for a career in acting.

For starters, the employment history of the applicant is deeply interconnected with acting and shares a lot of artistic skills necessary for an actor.

Working as a model, for instance, allows an actor to learn about poses and the right way to present themselves in front of cameras.

It also shows that the applicant is already trained to perform in front of a large audience, which is why other aspects like college theater are also a great addition to the resume.

The resume also lists a remarkable variety of helpful skills that can work for a variety of acting roles, such as voice training, speaking different languages, and speaking in accents.

Acting Resume For Children Example

Starting a career in acting from an early age is the easiest way to gain experience and renown in the industry.

However, children’s acting roles are limited so the competition is quite fierce. To help you make your child stand out, here’s a resume template that would pique the interest of a casting director.

Child Actor (2021 – Current)

• Portrayed various roles as a non-speaking child in several TV shows and movies
• Appeared in ads in local TV commercials for a candy bar small company
• Played a small role as a school kid in a local community theater production
• Was selected as one of the children audience in a children’s TV show
• Commenced by various directors and TV show hosts for good behavior and memorizing instructions

School Actor (2015 – 2019)

• Played the leading role in several school productions
• Appeared in several small roles in local theater productions
• Was voted as the best actor by the school committee
• Had a brief appearance in a locally produced independent movie
• Was chosen as a part of a commercial photoshoot for a local hospital’s billboard

Project Experience and Training

• Completed a TV and Cinema Course at a young age
• Received Vocal training
• Starred in various local school productions and played the lead role

Skills

• Follows directions easily
• Great memory and understands roles quickly
• Can sing and dance
• Plays the piano
• Excellent TV and film background

Education

• TV and Cinema Course from the Drama & Acting Institute in New York (2018)
• Abraham Joshua Heschel School (2010 – ongoing)

Licenses & Accreditations

• Best school actor in a local school production (2018)
• Currently applying for an acting diploma from New York University

Why This Resume Works

When it comes to child actors, creating a proper resume can be quite a challenge. Besides competition, children don’t create their resumes on their own, so you’ll have to write one for them.

The reason why this resume works is that it displays a lot of strengths in the applicant. For instance, the child in the resume already starred in a few local gigs and performances, such as commercials and ads.

She also appeared in various small roles in TV productions, so it’s a great resume for a child actor aspiring for a lead role.

The skills in the resume are carefully selected to grasp a casting director’s attention, as it focuses on the kid’s ability to memorize and follow directions.

These skills are very important for a child actor because interruptions and attitude problems on set can heavily impact productivity.

Additionally, the unique skill set also includes singing and dancing (with ongoing training), which makes the child eligible for various roles that require these abilities.

Acting Resume For College Auditions Example

Another actor resume sample that you might want to consider is one designed for college Auditions.

In this type of resume, you’ll need to focus on both your professional experience and acting classes, which is a sign of your commitment to acting as a career.

Actor and Singer (2018 – Ongoing)

• Appeared in a non-speaking role (bartender and pedestrian) in Netflix’s Black Mirror
• Had a small acting role in a locally produced documentary, playing the role of a criminal escaping from prison
• Shadowed multiple theater directors and local actors to learn about their acting job and hone my acting skills
• Played and performed various songs at local events and restaurants (paid and pro bono)
• Have my own Youtube Channel where I upload simples sketches and short musical clips, gaining 10,000 subscribers in 9 months

Child Actor (2014 – 2018)

• Appeared in several small roles in local theater productions
• Played a family son in a local TV commercial for a shopping mall
• Was chosen as the leader of the high school musical theater team
• Portrayed a non-speaking role of a child on a bike in NBC’s Parks and Recreation Series
• Played a part in a local gummies brand’s TV commercial

Project Experience and Training

• Member of the College Glee Club
• Made a musical performance in an awareness campaign for lung cancer

Skills

• Great singing voice
• Can play various instruments (string, percussion, and piano)
• Commitment and punctuality
• Memorizing scripts quickly
• Acrobatic and fit body

Education

• Bachelor’s degree of fine arts in Dance, Music, or Drama from the University of California, Irvine (ongoing)
• Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (2018)

Licenses & Accreditations

• Best school actor in a local school production (2018)
• Best supporting role in a local school production (2017 and 2016)
• Recommended by the production staff of Black Mirror (included in the cover letter)

Why This Resume Works

A college audition is different from a regular actor audition because your application is more likely to be reviewed by an acting teacher/coach/professor rather than a casting director.

This means that your past experiences alone may not be enough to convince them that you’re fit for the role.

Instead, you’ll need to focus on your existing skills and accreditations that will grant you a chance to audition for a certain role.

That’s why a resume with plenty of awards and accolades like this one would be a great way to model your resume after.

Additionally, in most college auditions, you’ll need to have multiple talents, as many college performances are musicals that involve playing music and singing along.

For these reasons, essential skills like singing and playing musical instruments and listing awards on the resume can greatly push your name forward.

However, it should also mention important soft skills like punctuality, commitment, and the ability to memorize and understand a role.

Acting Resume For Special Skills Example

Some actors may specialize in a particular field, such as comedy, drama, action, etc. Although focusing on a specific genre reduces your options, it improves your chances of getting an audition.

This is because your resume will be more optimized for this particular field over other aspects. So, here’s what an acting resume for special skills should look like:

Actor and Model (2016 – Ongoing)

• Starred in a few small roles in locally produced commercials and TV ads.
• Portrayed the role of a dojo apprentice in a History Channel documentary.
• Auditioned for several roles during shooting breaks, including Top Gun: Maverick and Furious 7 (Fast & Furious).
• Played the role of a boxer in a locally produced college movie project.
• Contributed to increasing the market share of various apparel companies like Brooklyn Tailors and Everlane by modeling and promoting their clothes and accessories as a model.

Vlogger (2018 – Ongoing)

• Influenced my audience base through various short films and skits in addition to helpful lifestyle and modeling vlogs
• Grew my Youtube channel to around 40,000 subscribers in 24 months.
• Used my knowledge to help viewers with lifestyle and fitness advice
• Improved my social media presence and promoted my career as an aspiring model and actor

Project Experience and Training

• Completed a Jiu-Jitsu course in Cobrinha Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Fitness (2018)
• Participated in various physique and fitness competitions (2018, 2019, 2021)
• Completed Stage Combat Workshop with New York Combat for Stage & Screen (2020)

Skills

• Stage combat
• Athletic and flexible physique
• Martial arts
• Motor vehicle proficiency
• Improvisation
• Speaking different accents

Education

• Bachelor of Arts in theater from New York Film Academy (2019)

Licenses & Accreditations

• Holds a driver’s license and can use a stick shift
• Holds Black Belt in Taekwondo with deep knowledge of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
• Won young actor of the year for a supporting role in local theater production

Why This Resume Works

This resume is a nice example of a highly skilled actor with multiple talents and specialization in action.

In addition to taking an acting class, this applicant also mentions all the necessary skills for acting in an action movie, such as stage combat training, Taekwondo, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Additionally, the applicant puts an emphasis on other aspects and skills that add a lot of value to his resume, such as the athletic figure, motor vehicle proficiency, ability to improvise on the spot, and more.

Besides acting, the applicant also mentioned other relevant work experience that will add to his bid to become a special-skill actor, including vlogging (influencing) and modeling.

Acting Resume For Voice Actors Example

Lastly, you should keep in mind that not all actors star in movies and TV shows. There are also voice actors who focus on their audible performance rather than actual acting.

Of course, these actors will have unique resumes that focus more on their special skills and experiences. Let’s check them out:

Podcast Host (2019 – Ongoing)

• Prepared and hosted a live podcast that airs twice a week where I discuss various topics and feature multiple guests and influencers
• Interacted with my audience through phone calls and live streams, which increased the engagement rate of my podcast by %20.
• Created multiple characters with unique sounds that I feature in the podcasts and improve engagement rates
• Featured as a guest and co-host in multiple online and local podcasts
• Appeared multiple times on local radio stations as a guest

Telephone Customer Service Agent (2020)

• Handled all incoming and outgoing calls in the call center.
• Followed both strict and flexible communication scripts when handling different situations and topics.
• Worked on occasional promotional campaigns to increase sales.
• Provided support and service to customers and potential clients to achieve the maximum level of satisfaction.
• Built sustainable relationships with customers to keep them engaged by taking the extra mile.

Project Experience and Training

• Wrote and directed a short movie as a part of the college graduation project
• Drafted helpful customer service response scripts for particular complaints to help colleagues and reduce lag time
• Organized a color-coded list of phone numbers and transferred it to different sections of the customer department to help facilitate customer handling, earning the Employee of the year award.

Skills

• Vibrant personality with the ability to react emotionally through voice
• Capable of speaking in different accents
• Fluent in French and Spanish
• Great communication skills
• Good at following instructions

Education

• Completed a Voice and Speech diploma from Temple University’s Department of Theater (2017)
• City Charter High School (2015)

Licenses & Accreditations

• Top 50 Fastest Growing Podcasts on Spotify (2022)
• Employee of the year award (2019)

Why This Resume Works

This voice acting resume works because it focuses on the most important element of this profession; the actor’s voice.

Although the applicant included a non-acting job in the resume, this one qualifies as a good entry because it shows that the applicant has plenty of experience using their voice.

Additionally, telephone customers usually have to abide by specific scripts to handle customers, which shows that the applicant is trained to abide by certain scripts without sounding too generic or out of tone.

The skills provided in the resume also reflect the aspiring voice actor’s ability to speak in various accents and in different languages, which increases their chances of getting hired as a foreign speaker.

Common Skills & Action Verbs to Include on an Acting Resume

If you want to make your resume more inviting to read and hard to pass, you must optimize it with attractive vocabulary, also known as action verbs.

These are certain verbs to catch attention and good skills that make you more qualified for a particular role.

Additionally, if the casting director is using screening software to process resumes quicker, these verbs will increase your score and encourage the casting personnel to check your resume.

In this section, we’ll provide you with a quick list of the best action verbs and skills to have as an actor.

Common Skills for Acting Resumes

• Voice training
• Playing Musical Instruments
• Speaking different accents
• Playing fitness sports
• Miming
• Ventriloquism
• Body flexibility
• Stage combat
• Singing
• Magic tricks
• Punctuality
• Speaking different languages
• Communication
• Martial arts
• Photography
• Acrobats
• Following directions
• Memorizing scripts quickly
• Commitment to the role
• Improvisation (Improv)

Common Action Verbs for Acting Resumes

• Played
• Adapted
• Completed
• Achieved
• Influenced
• Interacted
• Appeared
• Participated
• Portrayed
• Improvised
• Awarded
• Inspired
• Prepared
• Drafted
• Created
• Improved

Tips for Writing a Better Acting Resume

Since an actor’s resume is fairly unique, its optimization can be quite different from other resumes.

To help you with that, here are some essential tips to help you write a better acting resume and land an audition for a role.

1. Never Forget Your Headshot

No matter how critical an acting resume is, your headshot remains one of your biggest selling points as an actor.

Make sure that your headshot is shot professionally and has proper lighting and framing to highlight your best features.

Unlike other resumes where your image should be small or absent, your headshot must be large and clear on your resume. In fact, some actors may attach their headshots separately so that it’s large enough.

2. Optimize the Resume for the Role

Different roles may require a particular set of skills. For example, if you’re applying for a role with a musical background, you should put emphasis on related skills, such as singing, playing an instrument, dancing, etc.

On the other hand, if the role is in an action or adventure production, you should list information about your physique and whether you had any screen combat training as well as any previous related roles.

3. List Your Physical Characteristics and Contact Information

Another unique aspect of acting resumes is the physical characteristics section. In addition to your headshot, you must list your height, weight, hair color, eye color, etc.

This information helps the casting personnel find out more about your overall look and whether you’re a good fit for the role.

You must also provide all your contact information, including your agent number, on your resume.

4. Keep It Succinct

Casting directors need to process thousands of applicants per day. For that reason, standing out is always important to land you an audition.

However, you should always mind your resume length and keep it as succinct as possible while covering all the necessary details.

As a rule of thumb, make sure that essential information in your resume can fit on the back of your headshot, which is a good way to keep them both attached.

5. Create a Summary List of Your Previous Roles

If you already have a good list of previous roles, you should always mention it. However, if you had many roles, listing them all in your experience section may overcrowd your resume.

Instead, you should create a simple summary list of your previous roles in the form of a table.

This should contain the name of the production, the role that you played, and its nature (lead, support, etc.)

6. Use Tools to Help You Optimize Your Resume

If you still don’t know how to start, you can always use some resume writing services to help you out.

These services provide you with plenty of templates and help you while writing the resume without spending a lot of time, and many of them are also free!

7. Reference Any Industry Connections

Lastly, your network of connections in the entertainment industry can help fast-track your career considerably.

If you have any recommendations or references from a big director or actor, listing them as a reference on your resume would be a great help to your career!

Frequently Asked Questions

Similar Resume Types to Reference

One last thing you should know while writing an actor resume template is that you’re not limited to an actor resume alone.

Instead, you can also seek inspiration from other professions that are similar to acting by drawing interconnected elements.

Here are some of the best reference templates that could work for actors:

• Creative Resume: Since acting is all about creativity and coming up with new styles and techniques, a creative-type resume would greatly inspire your word choices and style.
• Dance Resume: Dancing is usually a major asset for an actor, so it’s no wonder that a dance resume would be a good reference for you.
• Theater Resume: Theater is one of the most popular ways to enter the field of acting. For that reason, a theater resume will include a lot of elements that can inspire you.

Wrap Up

Although writing a professional acting resume can be challenging, having a proper one increases your chances of getting an audition with a casting director!

For that reason, you have to take extra care while working on your actor resume to demonstrate your skill and acting experience.

As always, don’t hesitate to leave us a comment if you have any questions or thoughts that would help other readers.

Also, if you find this guide helpful, don’t forget to share it with other new actors aspiring to make it into the entertainment business!