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The perfect actor CV showcases your theatrical abilities in a way that makes you stand out from the crowd. It highlights your professional performance skills, your ability to think on your feet, and shows your versatility with details of performances in a variety of settings.
Combined with your unique actor skills and qualities, our example CV for an actor will help you to make your mark. Use the layout and structure as a model, or take a look at our selection of CV templates for a head start on your own CV’s design.
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Actor CV templates
Top tips for your actor CV
Get into character and impress casting directors with these actor CV tips…
Include a killer personal statement
The opening line of a CV for an actor is as important as your first on stage. It's your elevator pitch and chance to concisely summarise your TV and stage acting experience to date. Be sure to mention the number of years’ experience you have, any particular capabilities that set you apart, or the kind of roles you’ve taken on, whether it’s the medium like TV and theatre or the genre like comedy and drama.
Shout about specialist skills
Include any work and specialised skills gained outside acting, such as barista experience, as it may be attractive for casting directors looking to fill a specific actor job role. As well, as being transferable, you'll show you're not a one-trick pony.
Help casting teams with keywords
Show casting directors that you are well-versed in the industry, using key terms like ‘regional theatre’, 'screen tests', and ‘casting calls’ to bring their attention to your relevant actor skills and qualities. This will also stand you in good stead if ATS software is being used to scan CVs for specific phrases.
Pay attention to the actor job description
You’ll no doubt read the actor job description to get an idea about the role. But spend a bit more time skimming through it to see what they’re looking for. You’ll usually find at least 4-5 must-haves that you can include and highlight on your actor CV.
Choose the right actor CV format
Reverse-chronological is the most popular format for UK CVs, putting emphasis on your work history, starting with your most recent role. That’s fine if you’re an experienced actor, but those starting out in the industry may want to opt for a skills-based CV instead.
Actor skills and qualities to include in your CV
The skills included on an actor’s CV should show that you’re a versatile performer who has many talents to offer:
Key skills for acting positions
- Creativity
- Charismatic
- Strong verbal communication
- Quick line reading
- Vocal projection
- Able to take direction
Related skills to help your actor CV stand out
- Physical fitness
- Singing
- Dancing
- Knowledge of acting theory
- Self-discipline
- Punctuality
The personal statement for an actor’s CV
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.
Top FAQs about your actor CV
How do you become an actor?
How to become an actor is one of most common questions for those with a passion for theatrics. The best advice is to jump into any opportunities you can, getting involved in amateur dramatics and meeting as many people from the industry as possible. No doubt, some luck is involved, but you can certainly hedge your bets by building a network within the acting industry.
How do I get into acting with no experience?
Getting into acting with no experience is tricky, but not impossible. A great actor CV can help and so can the following:
- Develop additional skills such as singing, playing an instrument, or improvisation.
- Read as many scripts as possible to build your knowledge and identify possible audition pieces.
- Work skills such as stand-up comedy which will increase your ability to bounce back from audition rejection.
What qualifications do you need to be an actor?
There are no strict qualifications for being an actor, but a degree or BTEC Diploma will provide technical training:
- You’ll need 5 GCSEs including Maths and English.
- Ideally, 2 A levels which will give you the score needed to apply to a degree course.
- You could boost your CV with extra qualifications in music performance or dancing.
How do you write an actor’s CV?
An actor’s CV typically comprises four key sections:
- A personal statement or professional summary – introducing you as a candidate in 3-4 sentences
- Experience or work history – listing past acting roles or just previous jobs, and your responsibilities within them
- Key skills – a list of 6-10 skills and qualities which define you as an actor
- Qualifications or education – as long as they’re relevant to acting or within the last ten years
What is a typical actor job salary?
The salary for acting varies more than most other professions. As a ball-park figure, many actors earn within the region of £25,000-£35,000 but it depends massively on what kind of acting you’re doing, how big the role is, and whether it’s a recurring job or one-off gig.
Build your perfect actor CV
Putting together the perfect CV for an actor is quick and easy when you use our CV builder. Our CV templates offer the ideal framework, while our CV writing advice help you to take your experience and turn it into content that appeals to casting directors.
Look at our CV example to see how it’s done and then create your own personalised actor CV to take the next step in your career.
