Some would argue that an actors resumes is even more important than his or her headshot. In this article we will quickly review the central purpose of an acting resume and also what to think about when you are putting one together.

What sections go in an actors resume: An actors resume should take up precisely one side of one page, and you will typically staple it to the back of your head shot. This single page should represent you as an artist, as an entertainer, as an employee, and as a colleague. In order to do that, you will have to do a little thinking about what the auditioners seem to be looking for. What show are they putting up, and how does it compare to their previous shows? What sorts of actors do they like to use, and who do they usually cast for the role you want? After you’ve thought about and understood these things, the only thing to do is to try and give it to them. Since you’re a professional actor, this should be the easy part.

The main thing to have in mind is that your acting resume should represent the part you want to play more than you as an independent entity. Don’t be afraid to shape your resume to meet the needs of the character. Don’t lie; just list the parts of your acting career in an order which suits the demands of the part. This will hardly take you any time at all to do before each show. Five or ten minutes for each audition could be the difference between your next big break and your next season of waiting tables.