So you've been googling things like "acting cv template free" or "acting resume template download" and have come up empty-handed.
That's because most acting cv templates either require special software or are in PDF format so you have to rebuild them from scratch! On this page you'll get 3 free actor resume templates that don't require any special device or software – they can be opened with Google Docs. You can open them on any device (including mobile) and you won't need to worry about alignment, formatting, or anything else. Here are the free templates I'm including:
Acting CV Template
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Why it's bad: The background should be white. Do NOT use a color for the background or you'll look like a brand new actor who just downloaded a fun template on a random cv site.
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Why it's bad: OK, we already know the background should have been white. But the vertical formatting of the cv is also not at all industry-standard. Every section should be going down the page horizontally.
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Why it's bad: Well, at least we've got a white background and the formatting is horizontal, so it's not THAT bad... But the problem here is that there are WAY too many categories! It makes it really hard to read and separate things. Plus, the alignment of each production is tabulated the same as the major categories, which makes it harder for a casting director to skim.
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Why it's bad: OK, so the categories are easier to see, but there should not be any random yellow highlighted parts! The bright yellow is unprofessional and distracting, and gives off the impression that it was a free template downloaded from an online site, which screams "new actor."
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Why it's bad: OK, so this cv is actually not too bad. It's easy to read and get a sense of the actor's training, etc., but again, the formatting is incorrect. It should be aligned horizontally and not separated into two columns. Stay away from two columns – casting directors will never take those resumes seriously!
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Why it's bad: This resume is much closer to industry standard, BUT... there is WAY too much white space. It looks like a brand new actor who's just getting started. It's much better to use a professional template (you'll see them shortly) than to use something that looks so empty/sparse.
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An Unprofessional CV Can Cost You WAY More Than You Think.
Casting directors need a fast way to narrow down THOUSANDS of (yes, literally over 3,000) submissions they get for every role they post:
That's why a professionally-formatted resume is so important!! Here's what a professional actor cv template should look like: |
Actor CV Template: 3 Highly Professional, Downloadable Templates
Now, without further ado, I'd like to present my three professional Google Docs actor cv templates that WILL be taken seriously by casting directors.
Click the button below to receive all three, instantly. You'll get a standard CV, a CV for actors without representation, AND an acting CV template for beginners.
You can modify them however you like, changing the fonts, pictures, etc., and they work on any device including mobile.
Click the button below to receive all three, instantly. You'll get a standard CV, a CV for actors without representation, AND an acting CV template for beginners.
You can modify them however you like, changing the fonts, pictures, etc., and they work on any device including mobile.
How Do I Create an Acting CV?
If you're getting ready to build your resume and want to learn about the strategy behind writing a compelling one, I highly recommend reading my Ultimate Guide to Acting Resumes.
You can also watch this video for a brief overview on how to make your resume stand out:
You can also watch this video for a brief overview on how to make your resume stand out:
3 Numbers All Actors Should Know
Knowing how to build your acting CV is important, but it's just one small part of growing your acting career.
If your goal is to act full-time, you should know these 3 numbers:
If your numbers aren't there yet, that's OK! It's certainly not easy to audition and book that much.
But those are actual, real numbers from busy, working actors who didn't just get lucky.
Those busy, working actors started at the beginning – for them, the biggest question swirling in their minds at the time was:
How do I get taken seriously by casting directors when I don't have good credits or footage? And how do I get credits/footage without being taken seriously by casting directors?
It's the classic actor's catch 22.
When we're struggling to get our careers off the ground, our minds can slip into "desperation mode" and start looking for quick-fix solutions. We'll ask ourselves questions like:
But questions like those mean you're focused on Tactics, instead of Strategy.
Think about it this way: Would you bake a cake by randomly sliding a pile of flour, eggs, and chocolate into the oven? Of course not! How you combine the ingredients, the temperature you cook it at, and for how long are all just as important.
Similarly, the long-term, well thought-out strategy you follow as you grow your acting career matters. A LOT.
That's why "strategic thinking" is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself as an actor.
So today I'd like to give you a gift: 3 tools specifically designed to help you start thinking and operating strategically.
These tools have helped over 14,000 actors so far, many of whom have gone on to:
My free Actor's Toolkit will help you BLAST through the actor's catch 22 so you start getting WAY more auditions and bookings every month:
If your goal is to act full-time, you should know these 3 numbers:
- 40-60 Submissions – This is how often full-time, working actors submit themselves (whether they have an agent or not) each month.
- 10-20 Auditions – This is how many times full-time working actors audition (or at least record and submit self-tapes) each month.
- 3-5 Bookings – This is how often full-time working actors book real, paid acting jobs each and every month.
If your numbers aren't there yet, that's OK! It's certainly not easy to audition and book that much.
But those are actual, real numbers from busy, working actors who didn't just get lucky.
Those busy, working actors started at the beginning – for them, the biggest question swirling in their minds at the time was:
How do I get taken seriously by casting directors when I don't have good credits or footage? And how do I get credits/footage without being taken seriously by casting directors?
It's the classic actor's catch 22.
When we're struggling to get our careers off the ground, our minds can slip into "desperation mode" and start looking for quick-fix solutions. We'll ask ourselves questions like:
- "Should I take another acting class?"
- "Do I need better headshots or should I pay to shoot a reel?"
- "What's the fastest way to get an agent?"
But questions like those mean you're focused on Tactics, instead of Strategy.
Think about it this way: Would you bake a cake by randomly sliding a pile of flour, eggs, and chocolate into the oven? Of course not! How you combine the ingredients, the temperature you cook it at, and for how long are all just as important.
Similarly, the long-term, well thought-out strategy you follow as you grow your acting career matters. A LOT.
That's why "strategic thinking" is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself as an actor.
So today I'd like to give you a gift: 3 tools specifically designed to help you start thinking and operating strategically.
These tools have helped over 14,000 actors so far, many of whom have gone on to:
- Book Broadway roles
- Land network television and Netflix shows
- Sign with agents and managers
- And much more – faster than you'd expect (you can see some success stories here).
My free Actor's Toolkit will help you BLAST through the actor's catch 22 so you start getting WAY more auditions and bookings every month:
The Actor's Toolkit
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Martin Bentsen (author of this guide) is an actor marketing coach who uses strategic thinking to help actors book more work. He’s helped over 14,000 actors with their careers and actor headshots since 2009 and his photography studio City Headshots is ranked #1 on Yelp. He’s spoken at NYU, The New England Theater Conference, The Actor’s Green Room, and other venues. Want to book more acting work by thinking strategically? Start with his free Actor’s Toolkit to create new opportunities right away, or visit his website at www.martinbentsen.com. |
Some Additional Q&A
How Do I Write a CV for Acting?
An acting CV is broken up into four sections:
To learn more about each section, check out my Ultimate Guide to Writing Actor Resumes.
- Section 1: Personal Information – Includes your contact info, union affiliation, sizes, and a small headshot.
- Section 2: Credits – This shows all your experience and what productions you've been in so far.
- Section 3: Education & Training – Includes schools, workshops, and other classes you've attended (including private coaching).
- Section 4: Special Skills – Special skills are extremely important! Sometimes they'll be the only reason you get called in for an audition! Learn more here: Acting Resume Special Skills
To learn more about each section, check out my Ultimate Guide to Writing Actor Resumes.
How Do You Write an Acting Audition Profile?
The best way to create an audition profile is by first creating a free profile on one of the common audition sites such as Actor's Access, Backstage, or Casting Networks. Next, you should go section by section, filling each one in with as much detail as possible. Add photos and video clips, being sure that everything is done properly and without spelling or grammatical errors.
Once you've done a first pass and think it looks "good enough," wait a few days and come back to it with fresh eyes. Spend another hour or so reviewing and elaborating on what you added the first time. This "second pass" is what so many actors skip, and it can really help your acting audition profile stand out.
Once you've created your audition profile, read my Ultimate Guide to Finding Auditions to start booking acting work!
Once you've done a first pass and think it looks "good enough," wait a few days and come back to it with fresh eyes. Spend another hour or so reviewing and elaborating on what you added the first time. This "second pass" is what so many actors skip, and it can really help your acting audition profile stand out.
Once you've created your audition profile, read my Ultimate Guide to Finding Auditions to start booking acting work!
Further Reading:
If you enjoyed this article (Acting CV Template Free), you might be interested in some of these:
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