Our list of the best acting agencies in Sydney isn’t definitive, and it isn’t meant to be.
Sure, any agent worth their salt will submit you for auditions, pitch you for roles, negotiate your pay and contracts, and do their darndest to take you from “next big thing” to “the big thing.”
But each agency is different. Unique as a snowflake. Fantastic for some, but a poor fit for others.
Agencies can be:
- Hands-on and proactive or more remote
- Focused on one part of the industry (such as voice work) or representing diverse talents
- Highly selective with a small client list or able to maintain a large roster
- Large and multifaceted with many agents or boutique with only one agent
There’s no unambiguous top-spot agency for every actor, but what you can find is the agency that best fits your talents, aspirations, and values—one genuinely invested in your success that (cringey as it might sound) you legitimately vibe with. Getting that right could be the difference between obscurity and celebrity.
Being in Sydney gives you a huge leg up. You’re at the centre of Australia’s entertainment industry and will find a diverse range of agencies right on your doorstep, many of which co-represent internationally. You have the freedom to select one that feels tailor-made to your talents, so let’s kick-start your search by delving into a few of the best acting agencies in Sydney.
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Cate Blanchett, Charlize Theron, Julia Roberts, and Brad Pitt are all connected by what? Leaving aside beauty, wealth, and acclaim, they all started as extras, and extras are what MCTV is all about. Among Sydney’s longest-running talent agencies, MCTV:
- Places jobs daily
- Sends hundreds of clients to auditions each month
- Writes around 400 cheques for acting jobs each month
MCTV represents a wide cross-section of actors and, crucially, does not require prior experience. They’ll even take your head and body shots and create a personal profile on the major industry casting networks. We started here because it’s a natural first step. MCTV has placed fresh-faced actors in:
- Movies like Alien Covenant, Hacksaw Ridge, and Pacific Rim: Maelstrom
- TV shows like Bump, Top of the Lake, and Deadly Women
- Advertising campaigns for Red Bull, Toyota, and Qantas
MCTV has also developed a portfolio of established actors to put forward for meatier roles, so there’s certainly scope to progress.
Location: Haymarket
Submission Policy: Apply by email and they’ll send back an interview time. No experience is required.
Website: mctv.com.au
Perhaps the aspirational agency for starry-eyed actors with hopes of hitting it big, RGM Artists has been launching global talent since 1982 and remains one of Sydney’s most sought-after teams. You might have surmised as much from its exclusive submission policy.
On the acting side alone, five agents in Sydney work under the direction of partner Erin O’Connor. Clients also include screenwriters, producers, directors, radio hosts, voice artists, playwrights, authors, presenters, and other creatives, and RGM maintains strong links across the world, particularly in the US.
Location: Surry Hills
Submission Policy: Strictly industry referral only through a director, producer, network exec, film school, drama school, or casting director
Notable Clients: Cate Blanchett (Tár, Carol), Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland), Robson Green (Grantchester), and Rose Byrne (Bridesmaids, Physical)
Website: rgm.com.au
Many aspiring actors consider dipping their toes into voice work, and most acting agencies can hook you up with such opportunities. Cool, but what about if voice acting is your one true love? Start with RMK Voices. Voice acting is their bread and butter—you’re probably unfamiliar with the names of their clients, but we’ll bet dollars to doughnuts you’ve heard those clients speak.
Established in 1978, it’s one of Sydney’s longest-running agencies. Its agents rep notable voice talent across the spectrum for everything from documentary narration to movie promos to animated characters.
Location: North Sydney
Submission Policy: Representation considered for established and working voice artists with a fully produced commercial demo on MP3 or CD
Notable Clients: Juliet Jordan (Discovery Channel, BMW), Adam Whitby (National Geographic, Bravia), and Ric Herbert (X Factor, Cartoon Network)
Website: rmk.com.au
Like RGM, Marquee represents actors, voice actors, and creative artists across Australia, the US, and the wider world in all areas of television, film, and theatre. It’s another wish-list agency for actors with global goals.
Is the client list quite as prestigious as RGM’s? No, but Marquee has carved out its niche by combining an innovative understanding of areas such as social media branding and endorsement deals with a genuine drive to develop emerging talent. It’s a progressive and holistic approach to the agency game that puts a spotlight on career goals and fosters long-term relationships.
Location: Redfern
Notable Clients: Nathaniel Buzolic (Hacksaw Ridge), Myles Pollard (X-Men Origins: Wolverine), and Simon Alston (Thor: Love and Thunder).
Submission Policy: Submissions can be made via their website and must contain a current headshot, show reel, and CV. Unsolicited visits to the agency are not accepted.
Website: marqueemgt.com.au
iSpry provides opportunities for extras with no experience required, but their representation also covers experienced and professional actors working in film, television, and commercial projects across Sydney and the rest of Australia. Your interest may be piqued by their reported total talent payments of over AU $7 million and more than 9,000 unique talent bookings.
Founder Miriam Spry represents all ages and is known for going above and beyond. Client satisfaction is fittingly high. As one testimonial notes: “I’ve been with iSpry for nearly three years and have had work with Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Sam Neill, Miranda Otto, Paul Schneider, Robert Redford, and Roy Billing, to name a few.”
Location: Glebe
Notable Projects: Pacific Rim, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Lego Movie, Pirates of the Caribbean, Home and Away, and Modern Family
Submission Policy: Established actors can email a current show reel, casting network links, headshots, and CV.
Website: ispry.net.au
Shanahan backs its absolutely stacked client list with decades of experience. We could have made our list of notables below a lot longer. Shanahan even adds representation for directors, writers, voice actors, and other creatives into the mix, forging strong connections both in front of the camera and behind.
Another long-standing Sydney agency, Shanahan was founded in 1973 and is currently captained by Ann Churchill-Brown, one of the most highly regarded and experienced acting agents in Sydney. The company has even made its own forays into production over the years, so its industry relationships run deep.
Location: Surry Hills
Notable Clients: Nicole Kidman (Big Little Lies), Isla Fisher (Now You See Me), Mel Gibson (Braveheart), Emilie De Ravin (Lost), and Rachel Griffiths (Six Feet Under)
Submission Policy: Email directly with headshot, CV, and show reel, or submit via their website
Website: shanahan.com.au
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