Actor CV example

How to write a CV for an actor

With format out of the way, let’s move onto the specifics of your CV. In the sections that follow, we’re going to guide you through the process of how to write a CV for a variety of acting roles. With the right method, you’ll be able to approach auditions with confidence.

Below, you’ll find tips on what you should include and how to present your most valuable experience.

Here’s a programme for tonight’s show:

• What contact details should I include in my actor CV?
• How to write a personal statement for your actor CV
• Adding work experience to your actor CV
• Skills worth having on your actor CV
• Outlining education on your actor CV

What contact details should I include in my actor CV?

You may be surprised to hear but many actors miss the first important step. Including current, updated contact information at the top of your CV is something that should not be missed!

You’ll want to avoid this common mistake by adding your contact details near the header of your CV. Write them in a larger or bold font to ensure readability. Here’s a little bit of what you should include:

• Your full name: You can exclude your middle name.
• Location: Include your address or at least your town or city so the person reading knows where you’re based.
• Phone number: Provide your mobile number as this is the easiest way of reaching you.
• Email address: Make sure this is a professional email.

Example of contact section for an actor CV

How to write a personal statement for your actor CV

For an actor’s CV, creating a positive first impression is everything. To do this, you’ll need a personal statement. This will explain your achievements, acting skills, and qualifications. A casting director will need to know that you’re a serious actor and will value a person who can articulate their strengths. The difficulty here? You’ll only have three to four sentences to do this.

With so many CVs to get through for every actor job role, casting directors may only read your personal statement before deciding whether to read on.

Keep things concise like our actor profile example, with 3-4 sentences outlining some key skills such as “evoking strong emotions” and “working with other actors”.

You can also mention how much experience you have and any areas of specialism, whether it’s a specific genre or medium.

The first sentence is all about creating maximum impact and imploring the reader to read on. Begin by creating a simple introduction, mentioning your experience and career focus – this might include notable acting roles.

In your second sentence, you’ll need to show what you can do with examples. Mention your accomplishments, like lead roles in well-known plays, awards you’ve won, or any good reviews you’ve been given over the years. The more details you provide, the better it will look!

The third and fourth sentences should highlight any special skills or areas of expertise that you have, like acting techniques or stage presence. Explain the areas you are good in, especially in relation to the role you are hoping to audition for.

So what else is important for a personal statement? Keep these tips in mind:

• Always write in the third person to convey a professional tone.
• Keep your introduction brief, between 50 to 100 words.
• Use a friendly but formal tone
• Use keywords and phrasing from casting calls to show you’re right for the role

Example of personal statement for an actor’s CV

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Create my CV

Adding experience section to your actor CV

Adding an extensive work experience is vital to your CV. It’s where a casting director will gauge your experience as an actor and see if you have the credits to work in a professional environment. This part should showcase your strengths and any impressive accomplishments. When structuring this section, aim for a format that not only engages the reader, but also flows in a logical way.

Begin by detailing your current or most recent acting roles, carefully exploring the challenges of the role and how you overcame them. You should always highlight roles that stick close to any specifications listed on the casting call.

Make sure you always include:

• The title of your role
• Dates of employment
• The name of the production company
• The location of the production
• Challenges and features of the role in question
• Any notable awards, advancements or achievements

Example of work experience for an actor’s CV

Skills worth having on your actor CV

The skills included on an actor’s CV should show that you’re a versatile performer who has many talents to offer. This is why you need to create an extensive CV skills section that will explore your main strengths and specialisms.

You’ll want to separate your CV skills between hard and soft skills. A good number to shoot for is 12 skills in total. Hard skills are any skills you’ve learned through direct experience or through education. Soft skills are more like positive character traits. For example, you might have “strong stage presence” or “work well with other actors”.

Striking a balance between these two types of skill will paint a picture of you as a rounded candidate. A casting director won’t want an actor who doesn’t have acting skills, but it’s also important to have positive traits that make you easy to work with.

Here are some examples of hard and soft skills for an actor:

Outlining education on an actor CV

The education section of your acting CV is the bedrock of your future performances. It needs to support the rest of your CV by showing you have gone through the correct training to approach different roles. All of this will help to elevate you above other candidates.

As you detail your education, there are some rules you should follow. Firstly, make sure that you don’t include any poor grades or incomplete courses, as they won’t add to the picture of you as a good candidate. Instead, focus on your top achievements and qualifications that will make the reader engaged. Secondly, you can miss out any irrelevant qualifications. If you’ve completed a higher education degree, then you might not need to mention your GCSEs.

Always try to make the most of the space you have available. This means packing your education section with qualifications that strengthen your CV. If you don’t have that many acting credits, you should instead highlight these qualifications to show that you have the experience to act in a serious production.

When outlining your education, use the following format:

• Name of the education establishment
• Dates of study
• Subject title
• Qualification level
• Qualification result

Example of education for actor CV