How to Make an Acting CV in the UK

An acting CV is a summary of your attributes, skills, credits, and training. It should clearly contain all of the key information, giving busy CDs or agents a quick idea of who this actor is, what their talents are, and why they need to invite them to audition ASAP. There are lots of sample acting CV templates available online.

The main job of an actor's curriculum vitae is to deliver information quickly and concisely. That includes your contact info, headshot, credits, and skills. Don’t overcomplicate things; keep it simple.

Contact details 

Your name should appear in bold at the top of the page, written in a larger font size than anything else on the page. Put your key info—name, phone, email, and agency—right at the top of your CV next your headshot.

Stats

This usually includes your playing age, height and, sometimes, your location. Lots of actors don’t list their real age on their CV, as they don’t want to be limited in the roles they’re considered for. Instead, let your headshot do the talking. If a CD asks for your age in the audition, be honest; but get yourself in the room first.

Acting credits 

This section is where you’ll list your past work by category, under headings like “TV,” “Theatre,” “Film,” “Voiceover,” and “Commercials.” All credits should be written in this order: production, role, the venue or company, and director. 

For example, Ncuti Gatwa, who will soon take over the role of The Doctor on Doctor Who, would list that credit as: 

Production             Role                     Venue/Company             Director

Doctor Who             The Doctor           BBC                                  Alex Pillai

Lastly, don’t be afraid to name-drop. Your CV is there to impress, so don’t be afraid to brag. Prioritise listing any collaborations with A-list directors, big-name theatre companies, and any of your work that has won awards (you may choose to highlight this in a separate section).

See Also: How Can I Make it as an Actor in the UK?

We’ve all heard stories of actors claiming they can sing, dance, or tame lions when they’re actually tone deaf, have two left feet, and are allergic to cats. Honesty is important here—don’t be Joey Tribbiani!

Think about the role you’re going in for, and tailor your Skills section accordingly. It can include everything from accents you can perform and languages you speak to whether you have a driver’s licence or can play an instrument. It’s a good idea to include any experience with singing, dancing, stage combat, improv, and stunt work. You can also include more unusual skills like horseback riding, puppetry, or Argentine tango.

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Consider whether you want to include your social media handles. Lots of actors have professional accounts that show off their work and focus on their acting. If that’s you, great—especially if you have lots of followers; but it’s not crucial information for a casting director to know. If you do include your social profiles, you’ll be responsible for everything on them, so make sure there isn’t anything you wouldn’t want a CD to see. 

If there are jobs you don’t want to talk about for any reason, don’t include them. This is your chance to edit out the roles you wish you’d never taken. 

Finally, keep it short. Proofread your CV carefully, and edit out any irrelevant information. Casting directors are mainly interested in your latest and/or best work. When you feel it’s ready, get someone you trust—like your agent or a fellow actor—to take a look before you send it out.

Keep it simple, straightforward, and easy to read. Avoid the temptation to overdesign it by using different fonts, colours, or any other gimmicks. Keep the whole document in the same font; opt for a classic like Gill Sans, Times New Roman, or Arial. Your CV is there to display your talents, so don’t let anything distract from that. Also, check your work carefully. Bad spelling and dodgy formatting will make you look sloppy and unprofessional.

In general, no. That said, if you’re submitting your CV via email, it would be strange not to write some body by way of accompaniment. But keep it brief, warm, and relevant. Be friendly but professional, and remember that CDs are busy people—so this should be a quick pitch, not your life story.

We’d recommend submitting your CV as a PDF. This type of document is viewable on any type of computer, and since it can’t be edited, CDs will see it in the format you intended. Whether you’re composing your CV in Microsoft Word, Apple Pages, or Google Docs, it’s easy to export the file as a PDF.

Be sure to title the document with your full name, the date submitted, and the words “acting CV” (EG: Bex Palmer, Dec 2023, Acting CV). Though this seems obvious, it can be easy to forget.

Make sure your CV is up to date. You need to show potential employers the most recent version of yourself, so get in the habit of adding new jobs and skills as you go along. While you’re at it, don’t forget to update your casting profiles on StarNow and/or Backstage.  

Finally, if you have an agent, send them a copy of your up-to-date, beautifully polished acting CV.