Late last year, we published a post detailing useful features on Portfoliopad, our Talent Management platform. We discussed how to make your profile stand out with just a few additions, such as an engaging showreel and comprehensive Acting CV.
We’re always eager to assist our Talent on their performance journey! As we speak, our team is working on a blog post detailing how to curate a captivating showreel. If that’s something you’re hoping for a little guidance on, watch this space as that will be going live soon!
In today’s post, however, we’re going to be zeroing in on another essential puzzle piece: your Acting CV. We’ll chat about how to present them, what information to include, and common pitfalls to avoid. The pointers below are intended to get you brainstorming, help get rid of the blank page, and encourage you to highlight your accomplishments! We know you’ve worked hard to get here, so don’t be shy about celebrating your skills and achievements.
1. Keep it Neat
As in any industry, a messy or cluttered CV can be a bit off-putting for the reader. To ensure you keep their attention, all content should be neatly presented, separated by clear headings, properly formatted, and devoid of spelling mistakes. Ensure you export the file as a PDF for ease of download and use an intuitive title such as “Jane Doe_Acting Resume_June 2025”.
There’s a wealth of free resources available to help you get started. These include Canva, templates included in Microsoft Word, and even Irish Jobs. While this last suggestion leans more into the corporate realm, the formatting suggestions, in particular, can help you make a strong first impression.
2. If You’ve Got it, Flaunt it!
Many of us can get a little shy when talking about ourselves. But when it comes to your Acting CV, don’t be afraid to put your best foot forward by proudly listing your accomplishments and accolades. It helps inspire confidence in both yourself and the reader! Ensure your filmography, production history, showreel, training, awards, and special skills are front and centre. That way, they immediately draw the reader’s eye.
When it comes to niche talents, shout about them from the rooftops! Your ability to don an accent, ride a horse, tap dance, improvise, speak another language, perform stage combat, juggle fire, play an instrument, sing operatically, or balance on a tightrope could be the thing that sets you apart from other talent. You never know what a Casting Director is looking for, so be sure and cast your net wide. Those childhood piano lessons could pay off after all!
3. Picture Perfect
You’ve likely noticed that every time we send out an Availability Check, we ask recipients to take another look through the photos on their profile. This is to ensure their images are high quality, accurate reflections of their present-day appearance. (You can find more tips on how to capture the perfect headshot from home here!)
When it comes to your acting CV, your most recent headshot should be front and centre. This immediately signals to the client if you’re the right fit for the role physically. While headshots tend to champion neutral expressions, depending on the kinds of gigs you’re hoping to land, they can also be a wonderful way to showcase your personality. For example, in the case of comedic versus dramatic actors, consider Jim Carrey and Meryl Streep’s headshots below.
Pro Tip: You’ll notice Carrey and Streep’s headshots are black and white. A few decades back, that was considered the gold standard for headshots. As time has gone on, black and white headshots are considered dated as they provide no real insight into hair colour, eye colour, and complexion.
4. Answer (Almost) Every Question
The Client should come away from your CV with a good idea of who you are and without a lot of unanswered questions. To ensure they have as much information as possible from the jump, include your height, build, measurements, nationality, accent, eye colour, hair colour, location, agent’s contact details, and any other relevant stats.
That being said, conciseness is important, too. Put yourself in the Casting Director’s shoes; what elements would they need to know before deciding who to cast? Give them the essentials without going overboard and making the document too lengthy. Balance is key, so if it feels like a little too much information, go with your gut and remove it for the moment.
5. Trust the Process
If you don’t get invited to an audition, a callback, or to submit a self-tape, don’t let it get you down. The right role is out there waiting for you. Like so many things in life, it’s all about right place, right time! We guarantee your favourite actors have countless stories of rejection. You know as well as we do that doesn’t make them any less talented or capable.
Angelina Jolie taped for the role of Cher Horowitz in Clueless. Matthew McConaughey auditioned for Jack Dawson in Titanic and Scarlett Johansson for Judy Shepherd in Jumanji. Every one of these actors is enormously talented, but ultimately, the chosen actors made the films and roles as iconic as they are today. Jolie, McConaughey, and Johansson simply had that effect on other productions.
So, while you anticipate your big break, keep training and perfecting your craft. What’s meant for you won’t pass you!
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If you’re in need of Actors, Models, Extras, or Performers for your next Creative or Commercial Project, get in touch. Simply email info@castingireland.ie or call us on (01) 634 3112.
