Actor Resume: Template for Free & Tips

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Playing a role and getting into character is what you’re best at as an Actor. But is your resume not making the final cut? Take advantage of our resume templates to have a much better chance of passing the audition with a talent scout or recruiter.

Actor Resume Example MSWord®
Use our free Acting Resume template in Word format to ensure you get top billing when applying for a position.

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ResumeGiants » Examples » Acting Resume

Places, everyone – the best acting resume is about to take the stage!

As a skilled (or prospective) actor, your drama, dance, and performance skills are your best assets. But that doesn’t mean that creating a strong resume isn’t still an important part of landing the gigs you aspire to.

Landing your dream part, getting an agent, getting an Equity contract, or becoming part of a distinguished troupe of actors is no easy task.

And, when you add in the pressure of impressing casting directors and recruiters, it’s very useful to have an official document to represent yourself. Nothing says “I’m a professional,” like taking the time to put your talent on the page.

This ResumeGiants guide explains:

• How to create an acting resume that includes all of the information you need
• The best way to organize and format your resume
• Tips and tricks for setting your acting resume apart from the rest
• How to describe your acting experience to get any role you want

In the dark when it comes to what to put on a resume, where, and why? Check out this sample acting resume to get started:

Resume Example

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[Rebecca Hitchens]

[Stage Actor]
[601 Cherry Ln, Carlisle, NY 12212 | 207-574-8457 | rebeccahitchens@gmail.com]

>> Summary <<

Talented stage actor with over 8 years of professional experience in commercial and stage acting. Team player who is passionate and driven to take on the challenges of new, demanding projects. Bringing forth a strong work ethic and a desire to bring quality entertainment to all.

>> Experience <<

Stage Actor

Jefferson Playhouse | Jefferson, NY

2017 – 2022

• Auditioned for and performed in 7 stage productions for both in-person and digital audiences.
• Increased playhouse attendance by 18% over two years via the creation of a community-selected show schedule and social media presence.
• Attended regular rehearsals to improve upon acting techniques, develop choreography, and problem-solve with other cast members.

Voice Over Actor

BoxTube Studios | Philadelphia, PA

2015 – 2017

• Acted in over 10 unique commercial gigs for distinguished clients from Kelloggs to Ford.
• Developed vocal pacing and inflection skills to accurately portray the part in each gig.

Extra Actor

Feature Film: They Saw Her Dancing | Philadelphia, PA

2014 – 2015

• Performed as an extra in a number of scenes for the short film They Saw Her Dancing.
• Worked with award-winning director Abigail Arden.
• Assisted the cast and crew to complete various tasks.

>> Education <<

Bachelor’s in Drama Studies

Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, PA

2015 – 2019

• Honors: Graduated magna cum laude with a 3.58 GPA

>> Certificates <<

• Two-Year Conservatory Degree | American Academy of Dramatic Arts
• Voice and Singing Certificate | New York Film Academy

>> Skills <<

• Soft Skills: Teamwork, attention to detail, flexibility, problem-solving, time management
• Hard Skills: Knowledge of acting techniques, voice, dance, stunt performance, improvisation

>> Languages <<

• English (native)
• Spanish (fluent)

This sample combines our tips about formatting, writing, and organizing your acting resume to be sure that you’ve truly gotten all the information you want out on the page.

Feel free to use it as a reference as you begin to develop your own ideas!

As is the case for a theater resume, the acting resume format you’ll want to use depends on the role you’re looking to apply for.

For most, making an acting resume means creating a single page of information, including a headshot, about previous roles, experiences, and skills. 

The format choices you make to organize these details can be the difference between a show-stopping resume and one that merely gets by. 

Make sure to plan enough space to provide a potential employer with all the vital information they’ll need, including:

• Personal and contact information
• A resume summary or objective
• Your work experience and education
• Your skills
• Any additional information that shows why you’re a good fit for the job

It’s a good idea to use a respected and well-known layout, like reverse-chronological formatting, to put your most recent qualifications in the spotlight.

“Reverse chronological formatting” refers to when you list your most recent job, degree, or experience at the top of each section, followed by your second most recent, and so on.

Ahead are a few more things to keep in mind as you create an acting resume template to begin building on:

• Fonts: 
  • Always choose a font style and size that’s legible, professional, and clean.
  • Fonts that are messy or take up too much space can easily steal the show away from your actual qualifications. 

• Margins: 
  • For an acting resume, standard 1” margins are appropriate and the way to go.

• Line spacing: 
  • Single spacing is usually the best option when creating a resume.
  • However, if the text on your resume is hard to read or blends together, it is possible to increase your line spacing.
  • Likewise, some might find that double-spacing helps fill in gaps on a resume that isn’t very text-heavy.
  • Remember that professionalism and readability are key.

• Images: 
  • Acting resumes actually benefit, in most cases, from including a headshot and other photos.
  • A headshot or resume photo shows a casting director who you are, and photos from past performances (perhaps in a portfolio) can serve to demonstrate your talent.

• File type: 
  • When creating your acting resume template, Google Docs, Word, etc. are fine tools to use – but, when it’s time to save and send it, PDF files are the best choice.
  • Unless the job description has requested otherwise, submitting a PDF means that your resume will be compatible with and look good on any device.

Sometimes, the hardest part of making an acting resume is just getting it to look nice and organized. 

That’s why we’ve created tons of resume templates, including options that work if you need a free acting resume template with photos, that can do the hard work for you. 

Save your time and energy for what really matters: scoring an interview and, eventually, the role you’re after! 

Your resume summary or objective functions as your “elevator pitch” and gives a casting director a well-rounded view of who you are.

It’s also the thing that will grab the attention of a potential employer and, as a result, can break or make your resume.

• A resume summary showcases your talent by explaining your past professional achievements and experiences, so it is usually best for those who are already in the field.
• A resume objective, on the flip side, focuses on what a casting director is looking for and makes it clear how your skills can help. These are best for entry-level applicants or those looking to move into acting from another field.

Regardless of which type of headline you write, you’ll want to find ways to break down your main qualifications into just a few, powerful lines. 

This can take lots of practice and patience. 

Try reading your headline to yourself to help you get an idea of how it flows, or consider creating a few different examples to choose from. 

Acting Resume Summary Example

A strong acting resume summary does just what the name says: summarizes all of the key information that a casting director or employer needs to know about you. 

The more examples and specific details you can provide, the better your summary will likely be. 

Of course, it’s still important to avoid being too wordy. The last thing you want is to create a summary that’s so dense that an employer skips over it!

So, be sure to focus on what matters most. Reading your summary aloud is a great way to get a feel for how long and nuanced it is so you can make adjustments.

To showcase how a clear, detailed resume summary can change the way a potential employer sees you, we’ve created some examples: one poor, one strong.

Take note of the things that you think work and those that don’t. Which summary makes you want to learn more about the candidate?

How to Write a Beginner Acting Resume Objective

Even an acting resume for beginners should include a strong resume objective.

It can certainly be tricky to find ways to summarize who you are as an employee and an actor without much experience in the field, but it’s not impossible. 

In fact, resume objectives are actually really great for entry-level applicants because they focus on accomplishments and skills rather than specific experiences.

You can make things easier by focusing on creating a resume objective that’s tailored to what an employer is looking for (and what you offer in response). 

Take some time to identify keywords from the job description and find ways to emphasize, based on the experiences you do have, that you have what it takes to tick all the boxes a casting director is looking out for.

Experienced Actor Resume Objectives

On the flip side, if you’ve got lots of experiences to describe but have a gap in your employment, are switching to a new field, etc., a resume objective is still a great choice.

Resume objectives make it easy to show who you are, even if your work history isn’t as recent or relevant as you might like. 

As is the case when creating a beginner actor resume template, be sure to list specific accomplishments, skills, and keywords that connect your qualifications to the job in question.

The work history section of your resume is one of the most important; here is where you’ll list all the previous roles and the relevant experiences you’ve had. 

If you have specific roles you’d like to note, be sure to include details like the production name, the name of the role, the location, year, etc.

It’s typically best to list your most recent experiences near the top of this section, but it’s also okay to prioritize the most relevant roles if it makes sense for the job you’re applying to. 

Be sure to use power verbs and other strong language to describe your experiences in a way that’s engaging. You only have a minute or so to catch the attention of and impress a potential employer, so make it count!

Acting Resume Experience Examples

Here are some examples that demonstrate how to make your experience stand out from the crowd: specific and powerful language, detailed achievements, and attention to details from the job description.

Acting Resume Experience Section with No Experience

How do you go about writing an experience section when you have no actual experience to turn to? 

By thinking outside the box. Even if you haven’t spent a lot of (or any) time acting, you can focus on the knowledge that you do have and find ways to connect it to the field. 

If you’re looking to draft up an acting resume template with no experience, ask yourself what details – whether they come from a past job, schooling, or even your personal life – have led you to have an interest in the field in the first place.

Maybe you spent a lot of time involved in local and community theater during your childhood and developed a passion for the art. Or perhaps you really enjoy performing and have learned so through your position as a summer camp counselor. 

Whatever the case may be, use your creativity to find ways to make your strengths work to your advantage. 

And, remember that some work experience is better than none, even if it’s not the most directly-related job. 

Take a look at the following acting resume example for beginners to get a feel for how you can make your own experiences pop:

Many actors begin their work in the field without any sort of formal degree, but regardless of how much education you have, it’s important to recognize that your education section is a great tool for showing your dedication to theater. 

If you do have a degree or have spent time in post-secondary educational training, be sure to include details about this experience on your resume, especially if you attended a reputable program.

Those who hold degrees higher than a bachelor’s should omit details from older experience (i.e. high school) if necessary.

Likewise, degrees or training that are still in progress can be included; prioritizing your most recent, and therefore most relevant, credentials is key.

Here are some tips for things to mention as you break down your education on your resume:

• Describe relevant coursework. This is a great chance to show casting directors who you’ve worked with or what specific areas you’ve studied.
• Talk about major achievements. If you won any awards, earned any distinctions or honors, graduated with a high GPA, etc., be sure to mention these points.

Note any significant involvements. Being a part of a local community theater, student organization, etc. related to your field shows dedication but also showcases your skill set.

Acting Resume Education Section Examples

When listing your educational experience, make sure to mention only what adds to your resume.

Help your acting resume’s education section reach the spotlight by noting significant achievements and honors, and scrap unnecessary details that create clutter.

The skills section of your resume is an ideal place to communicate more of your strengths and abilities in a clear, easy-to-understand format. 

It’s also a great time to fill in any gaps that you may feel exist elsewhere on your resume or take advantage of keywords and big ideas mentioned in the job description. 

If you’re interested in applying for a role that involves lots of action sequences, for instance, mentioning that you’re skilled in combat and stunt work helps you paint yourself as the best fit for the job.

The best skill sections make use of both hard skills and soft skills.

Hard skills are those learned on the job and specific to a particular niche, while soft skills are more general and apply to different types of work. 

Things like communication skills, acting training, and more are all relevant details to include. 

Below are some more examples of special skills for acting resumes that you might want to incorporate into your own. We suggest choosing about 5 to 10 skills for a resume.

While a good acting resume covers the bases we’ve just explored, the best acting resume is one that steals the show from the rest.

“Other” sections on a professional acting resume are a great opportunity to take yours to the next level.

These sections can include details about training, certifications and awards, and more. 

They give you a chance to beef up your resume and talk about things that might not have made their way into other sections.

Actor/Actress Resume Sample “Other” Sections

What your “other” sections look like can vary a bit, but for most looking to create a resume for acting, special skills and experiences that demonstrate not just why you’re a good actor, but also a good employee overall are key. 

The same rules about keeping things clear, concise, and on-topic apply here, but don’t be afraid to be creative when you choose what to include and how to connect it to the job.

Take a look at these “other” sections from an acting resume example to get a feel for how you can create some of your own:

Strong “other” sections can include things like volunteer experiences, community service, personal hobbies or skills, and more. 

But, for an acting resume, we recommend the following:

Certifications and Training

It’s a good idea to mention any certificates or completed training you have under your belt, as well as the source they came from.

Include only coursework and programs that are from reputable, accredited schools.

Awards

Awards are great, but what’s even greater is being able to use them to show what you know.

For an acting resume, though, it’s sometimes best to list awards under the specific roles or job positions they were granted for. 

However, if you have a lot of awards to list or find that your experience section gets too cluttered, creating an award-focused “other” section may be the way to go.

Make sure to list the name of the award, the party responsible for giving it out, and what you won it for. 

Even if you’re the best actor in the world, having a killer resume to show for it can be a real headache. 

Luckily, creating the actor or actress resume that you need to showcase your skills is a role that you’re now equipped to take on. 

In this guide, we’ve discussed:

• How to break down your acting education and professional experiences to show you’re a good fit
• The best way to organize and format your actor resume template, words in each section, photos, and more
• How to include other details to bulk up your resume
• Writing techniques to help your resume stand out from the rest 

We hope that these tips and tricks have been useful and will carry you through an audition and to the stage.

If you’re still struggling to make your resume reflect your experiences or need some guidance, our easy-to-use acting resume builder does the hard work of planning and organizing for you. 

Be sure to take advantage of this tool, so you can create a finished product worthy of any award!