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Acting Resume Tips to Boost Your Career

By The Up-To-Date Actor, October 17, 2022

Your headshot is the first picture (literally and figuratively) that industry professionals see of you. The second is your resume. Your acting resume should enhance and support your most marketable qualities and indicate your “type.” Essentially, it should put into words everything that your headshot cannot. A good resume is so much more than a chronological biography of your work. It is a tool that gives agents and casting directors a quick and clear snapshot of what you do best and highlights the specific skills that make you most marketable.

Originality is important; as actors, performers, and humans, we are always on a quest to present our talent in the most unique way. Uniqueness has its place but not in the formatting of a resume. Your creativity is better spent on the content and wording of your cover letters. Leave the layout in its simplest form and focus on including your most impressive, relevant work. The goal of an actor’s resume is to “wow” casting directors and agents with your experience and skill; don’t let fancy lettering and graphics get in the way of that.

As you progress through your career, your resume will evolve and grow. Continue to update it with new projects and work experience. Remove that which is less impressive and reorganize as you see fit. Equally important are the terms you include and the names, production companies, and credits you mention. By reading the full version of this post, you’ll gain valuable insight into how to structure a professional actor’s resume, what to include, what not to include, and so much more.

In addition to our robust database of entertainment industry contact info, the Up-To-Date Actor’s new resource section offers detailed advice and instructions from career coach and UTDA Founder Annie Chadwick. Topics include headshots, resume formatting, cover letters, follow up notes, and more.