What Is an Acting Resume? Its 6 Sections and Why It Fits on One Page

The 6 sections of an acting resume

Every acting resume has these six sections:

1. A current headshot: the partner of your resume. Natural, with a neutral background and no filters that change how you look.
2. Name, union status and contact: your name, large and clear at the top, your union membership if you have one (for example, SAG-AFTRA) and your phone, email and reel link, or your agent’s or manager’s contact information if you have representation.
3. Physical stats: height, hair color and eye color. With these details they can see whether your look fits the character, which is known as your type or physique du rôle.
4. Credits: your acting experience, paid or unpaid, grouped into film, television, theater and commercials, with the project, your role and the production company, director or theater. Under commercials, many actors simply write “list available upon request.”
5. Training: classes, workshops, programs and schools, with the teacher or institution.
6. Special skills: languages, accents, instruments, sports, dance and any artistic or physical ability that could be useful for a role.

In our guide on how to make an acting resume you’ll find examples of each section and what to include if you don’t have experience yet.

Why does an acting resume fit on one page?

Because the people casting go through a lot of resumes in very little time, and one that runs longer than a page is unlikely to be read in full. A long resume can also give the impression that you struggle to choose what to show.

It’s one of the most important rules, and one of the hardest when you’re starting out and want to include everything. In casting, editing is a virtue: a well-edited resume that puts the most relevant work first and presents it clearly says more than a long, messy one.

What format should your acting resume be in?

Send it as a PDF for email and online submissions, and bring it printed to in-person auditions, trimmed to 8×10 and stapled to the back of your headshot. On casting platforms, you usually fill in your resume as part of your profile. An image version (JPG) is also handy for sending by text or social media. Having all of these ready lets you answer any casting call right away.

Your resume usually goes along with your photos, your reel and sometimes a slate or intro video. To send everything in order, follow the steps to prepare your audition materials.

Tip: Keep a master document with everything you’ve done, and export a one-page PDF version for submissions, saved under your name. Update it every time you book something new, so it’s always ready to send.

Frequently asked questions

What is an acting resume?

It’s a one-page document an actor uses to present their work in the entertainment industry. It includes your name and union status, contact details, physical stats, credits, training and special skills, and it goes with your headshot. It’s the first thing casting directors, production companies and agencies look at.

What is the difference between an acting resume and a regular resume?

An acting resume goes with a headshot and lists physical stats, which a regular resume doesn’t need, and it’s limited to acting work. It leaves out jobs outside the arts, work references and generic career objectives. It also always fits on one page.

How long should an acting resume be?

One page. It’s a basic rule of casting: the people choosing actors go through many resumes in little time, and one that runs longer than a page is unlikely to be read in full. If you have a lot to include, prioritize your most recent and most relevant work for each project.

What format should I send my acting resume in?

As a PDF for email and online submissions, because it keeps your layout and opens on any device. For in-person auditions, print it, trim it to 8×10 and staple it to the back of your headshot. Having both ready lets you answer a casting call right away, without wasting time.

What goes on an acting resume with no experience?

Start with your training, then add anything you’ve done in front of an audience or a camera: school or community theater, student films, short films and workshop performances all count. Fill in your special skills too, so the page shows everything you can bring to a role.