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An acting resume is your calling card in the industry. It’s often the first impression casting directors get of your experience and professionalism. To stand out, your resume needs to follow specific industry standards. In this guide, we’ll cover the best practices for listing film, television, theatre, and even commercial credits on your acting resume. With the right format, you can boost your chances of getting noticed.

Why Industry Standards Matter

Acting resumes come with clear, accepted rules that change over time. While there’s no single “perfect” format, following widely-adopted standards helps ensure casting directors take you seriously. Ignoring these standards could make you seem inexperienced or unprepared. By sticking to a clean, professional layout, you’re giving yourself the best chance of getting through the door.

The Purpose of an Acting Resume

Your resume isn’t just a list of jobs—it’s a tool to prove you belong in the professional acting world. It shows casting directors what types of roles you’ve performed and where your experience lies. Each credit should highlight your suitability for the job and reflect your range without overwhelming with unnecessary info.

Think of it as your acting portfolio. Keep it sharp, focused, and up to date.

How to Structure Your Acting Resume

A great acting resume is simple and easy to navigate. Use three columns for your credits:

• Column 1: Name of the production.
• Column 2: Role type (e.g., Lead, Supporting, Principal).
• Column 3: Director or producing organisation.

This layout keeps your resume clean and lets casting directors quickly spot relevant information. It’s especially important when you’re listing multiple sections, such as film, TV, and theatre. Group each category clearly to help readers identify your experience at a glance.

Key Categories for Your Resume

Your acting credits should fall under specific categories. Focus on these main ones:

• Film
• Television
• Theatre

Optional categories include Commercials and Voiceovers, but only if they’re relevant to your current goals. Each section should be neatly separated so the reader doesn’t have to dig for details.

Listing Your Film Credits

Film credits need careful formatting to fit industry expectations. For the Role Type column, only use these three terms:

1. Lead
   A Lead role means you were the main focus of the film’s story. It includes protagonists, antagonists, and major supporting leads. Lead actors typically appear in most scenes and have a significant impact on the plot. These roles are often credited early in the title sequence.
2. Supporting
   A Supporting role refers to an important character who influences the story but isn’t central to the film. These roles involve fewer scenes than leads but still contribute meaningfully to the plot.
3. Principal
   A Principal role is a smaller, named or speaking part in the film, usually listed in the ending credits. Anyone with a speaking line or credited character in a movie qualifies as Principal.

Should You List Extra Work?

The simple answer is no—don’t add extra or background roles to your resume. Listing these can give the impression you’re focused on background work rather than professional acting. Even if you had a featured extra role or appeared in a well-known project in the background, it’s best to leave it out.

Exceptions might apply if you’re in a smaller market or just starting out.

Listing Your Television Credits

For television, categorise your roles into these four types:

1. Series Regular
   These actors appear in most episodes and are under contract for the show’s run. Their names appear in the opening credits, often alongside the title. These roles are high-paying and typically well-recognised.
2. Recurring Character
   A Recurring Character appears in multiple episodes, often across seasons, but not regularly. They are usually contracted per episode or for small blocks.
3. Guest Star
   Guest Stars are central to a single episode’s storyline. These characters have significant roles in their episodes but don’t appear frequently enough to qualify as recurring. Guest stars could include celebrity cameos or smaller key roles.
4. Co-Star (Day Player)
   Co-Star roles, often called Day Players, are smaller, speaking parts with a one-day contract. Examples include someone delivering key lines like a bartender or shop assistant. These roles get paid standard daily rates and are many actors’ entry point into TV work.

Why Avoid Background Work Here Too?

Again, extra work should stay off your resume. Casting directors for television are looking for skills and speaking roles—background credits send the wrong message. If you’re transitioning into main roles, leave extra work behind.

Listing Commercial Credits

Deciding whether to list commercials depends on whether you’re actively pursuing commercial work. If commercials are your focus, include a dedicated section with these details:

• Name of the project.
• Role type (typically Principal).
• Producing organisation.

Commercials for Film and TV Actors

If film and TV are your primary goals, skip listing commercials altogether. Instead, include a simple note: “Commercial conflicts available upon request.” This keeps your resume focused while making commercial details available if needed.

Listing Theatre Credits

Theatre credits have their own rules. In this section, you should include the name of the character you played. Theatre directors are often familiar with plays and musicals, so seeing a known role helps them grasp your experience quickly.

Balance Your Character Types

When listing multiple theatre roles:

• Highlight Leads and Supporting Roles first.
• Mention Ensemble roles later.

Be cautious about overloading on ensemble credits. Too many can brand you as an ensemble-only actor, which can limit your casting opportunities for bigger roles.

For Unfamiliar Shows

If a production is less known (e.g., a workshop or a new play), feel free to categorise your character by type (Lead, Supporting, Ensemble). Context matters more when the show itself isn’t recognisable.

Additional Tips for Choosing Credits

You don’t need to include every single role you’ve ever played. Instead, focus on credits that:

• Showcase larger or more prominent roles.
• Represent well-known productions.
• Highlight your range as a performer.

It’s okay to drop older or minor roles as your career grows. Swap them out for newer, stronger credits that better reflect your current brand.

Why You Should Never Add Dates

Dates have no place on an acting resume. Whether it’s your training, graduation year, or production dates, leave them off. Why?

• They make your resume look outdated fast.
• Casting directors don’t care when—you could’ve shot the project last year or 10 years ago.

Let the first impression suggest everything is current. If they need more details, they can look it up on IMDb or elsewhere.

Should You Separate Your Resumes?

If you have extensive experience in areas like film and theatre, consider creating separate resumes for each format. For example:

• A Film Resume with film credits at the top.
• A Theatre Resume with your theatre work leading the list.

This helps tailor your resume to specific roles and shows an understanding of what casting directors need.

Final Thoughts

Your acting resume isn’t just a document. It’s a showcase of your professionalism, skill, and understanding of the industry. By sticking to industry standards, avoiding unnecessary details, and highlighting your most impressive roles, you’ll stand out as a serious actor.

Have questions? Need more detailed advice? Check out additional resources or leave a comment below. Sorting your resume might take time, but it’s one of the most important steps in building your acting career.