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Acting resume format guide

A plain-English walkthrough of how a working actor resume is laid out — the sections in the order casting expects them, the right columns for your credits, and the mistakes that get a resume tossed. Tap any section to open it.

One page, top to bottom

  1. Name — large, at the very top
  2. Unions & contact — affiliations, agent or your line, email
  3. Stats — height, eye/hair color (only where your market expects them)
  4. Credits — grouped: FILM, TELEVISION, THEATRE, COMMERCIAL
  5. Training — schools, teachers, ongoing classes
  6. Special skills — the honest, castable last line

Your name is the headline — largest text on the page, centered or top-left. Directly under it, list any union affiliations you actually hold (for example SAG-AFTRA, Equity / AEA) and your contact path.

  • If you have an agent or manager, their info goes here — many actors show only the rep's contact, not a personal number.
  • No agent yet? Use a professional email and, if you choose, a phone number you actually answer.
  • A voice type (soprano/tenor) line belongs here only on a musical-theatre resume.
✕No home address, no Social Security number, no date of birth or age.
✕Leave off your exact age — list an age range only if your market uses one, never a birth year.

A short stats line typically carries height and sometimes eye and hair color. Whether you include it depends heavily on your market and what you submit for.

  • Theatrical / film & TV: height is common; weight is usually left off.
  • Commercial & print: these stats matter more and clothing sizes may be requested separately.
  • Your headshot already shows your look, so keep this line brief — it is a quick reference, not a profile.

Norms differ by region and category. When in doubt about what to include, ask your agent what casting in your market expects.

Credits are the heart of the resume. Group them under headers — typically FILM, TELEVISION, THEATRE, and COMMERCIAL — and within each group use three aligned columns.

The crucial detail is what goes in the middle and right columns, and it changes by medium:

  • Film & TV: column 2 is the size of role (Lead, Supporting, Co-Star, Guest Star, Recurring) — not the character name. Column 3 is the director / network / production company.
  • Theatre: column 2 is the character name (Hamlet, Stage Manager). Column 3 is the theatre or director.
ProjectRole typeDirector / Network
Untitled IndieSupportingdir. J. Rivera
The PrecinctCo-StarNBC

Theatre rows would instead read: Our Town  ·  Stage Manager  ·  Roundtable Rep.

  • List your strongest / most recent credits first within each section — there is no strict chronological rule.
  • Brand-new actors can lead with Training until credits build up. An honest short resume beats a padded one.

Training reassures casting that you are coachable and serious. List program or studio, the focus or teacher, and the city where useful.

  • Include degrees (BFA/MFA), conservatory or studio programs, and notable ongoing classes (scene study, on-camera, voice, movement, improv).
  • Name respected teachers when you genuinely studied with them — a known name carries weight.
  • Group by discipline (Acting, Voice, Movement) if you have a lot; keep it tidy.

Only list training you actually completed or are currently taking. Casting people talk to each other.

The final line lists skills you can perform on demand, today — they can be the reason you get called in.

  • Good entries: accents/dialects you can hold, languages spoken fluently, instruments, dance styles, stage combat, sports, valid driver's license, swimming.
  • Be specific about level where it matters (e.g. "intermediate French", "certified stage combat").
✓List only what you could be asked to demonstrate in the room without warning.
✕No filler like "fast learner" or "team player" — those are not castable skills.
  • One page. Always. If it runs long, cut the weakest credits — never shrink to a wall of tiny type.
  • Trim to headshot size (8×10) and staple or print on the back so the two never separate.
  • Clean, readable font at a comfortable size; consistent columns and alignment throughout.
  • Match the name on your resume, headshot, and casting profiles exactly.
  • Save and send as a PDF so spacing holds on every device.
  • Add links (reel, website) only if they are current and work.
✕Listing extra / background work as a principal credit. Background and stand-in work generally do not belong in your principal credits — and inflating it is the fastest way to lose trust.
✕Personal data. No address, age, birth year, marital status, or ID numbers.
✕Going over one page or cramming with tiny fonts.
✕Putting the character name in the role column for film/TV (use the role size there).
✕Fabricated or unverifiable credits and training. It surfaces fast and ends conversations.
✕Typos and broken links. A misspelled director or dead reel link reads as careless.

When you are unsure whether something belongs, leave it off and ask your agent. A short, honest, well-formatted resume always beats a padded one.

This is general, industry-standard formatting guidance for educational use — not professional, legal, or representation advice. Conventions vary by market, medium, and union (for example SAG-AFTRA or Actors' Equity), so confirm the right format with your agent or a trusted coach for your situation. Horizon does not submit you anywhere and does not guarantee auditions, callbacks, bookings, or representation. Nothing on this page is saved or uploaded — it all runs in your browser.

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