An actor cover letter is a complimentary document that applicants send attached with their acting resume and headshots. An acting cover letter briefly provides information on an actor’s previous projects and acting gigs and illustrates what makes them a good candidate for the role.
To write an acting cover letter, the candidate must use the proper format, which includes using one-inch margins on each side of the page, adding 1.0-1.5 line spacing, and applying an easy-to-read font with the sizing at 10-12 pt.
The candidate must make a clear header for the cover letter for acting and include their name and contact information (phone number, email, website, social media handles); next, the acting cover letter consists of the date the letter was written, along with the recipient's personal information.
Sending an acting cover letter to an agent or casting director provides an excellent opportunity to showcase an aspiring actor’s talent and personality.
The purpose of writing an actor cover letter is to connect with the casting director or hiring manager of the upcoming production, showcase the actor's talents, skills, and acting experience, demonstrate their personality, and convince the recipient to invite the actor over for an audition or interview.
An acting cover letter must include relevant information about the actor’s work experience, talents, and the driving force behind their application.
An acting cover letter is sent when an actor wants to elaborate on information mentioned in their acting resume, inquire about an agent or agency for representation, or apply for acting studios and drama schools. Some performing arts schools require applicants to submit an acting cover letter alongside their resume. A strong and compelling actor cover letter is vital if applicants want their application accepted.
Talent agencies receive dozens of acting resumes daily, so adding a cover letter makes the candidate stand out.
How to Write an Acting Cover Letter
To write an acting cover letter, the candidate must use the proper format, which includes using one-inch margins on each side of the page, adding 1.0-1.5 line spacing, and applying an easy-to-read font with the sizing at 10-12 pt.
The candidate must make a clear header for the cover letter for acting and include their name and contact information (phone number, email, website, social media handles); next, the acting cover letter consists of the date the letter was written, along with the recipient's personal information.
The cover letter for acting opens with a personal greeting to the potential employer (if the applicant needs help finding the artistic director's name, they research the agency or production company online or contact them by phone). The actor mentions the role they want to apply for and introduces their main acting achievements in the cover letter for acting introduction.
It is essential to read the job posting carefully to understand the role. The actor writes about their acting experience that is most relevant to the role, mentions other acting accomplishments they have achieved, and talks about directors they have worked with or stages they have performed at in the body paragraphs of acting cover letters.
The candidate shares their excitement about the project and working with the specific production studio and explains their motivation for joining the particular project in the second body paragraph.
The applicant summarizes what makes them unique and a perfect fit for the role, including a call-to-action (CTA) suggesting an invitation for an audition to demonstrate their acting skills on stage or camera in the closing paragraph of the actor cover letter.
Acting cover letters end with the actor signing off with a closing salutation (for example, "Best Regards" or "Sincerely") and their full name.
It is crucial to proofread the acting cover letter to ensure no grammatical errors and that all contact information is correct, and to take the time to go through each section of the cover letter for acting separately and tailor the segments according to the acting job description.
Talent agencies receive dozens of acting resumes daily, so adding a cover letter helps applicants stand out.
Date and contact information
Acting cover letters have an easy-to-read header at the top, which contains the applicant's up-to-date contact information, including their full name, job title, phone number, and email address. A home address is added if the applicant feels comfortable sharing the information.
A heading for a cover letter for acting includes the date it was written and the addressee's contact details.
Correctly formatting the heading of acting cover letters is vital as it is the first information the hiring manager or casting director sees. It is optional to get creative with the design and visual appearance of the cover letter for acting; however, it is essential to keep the same font options throughout the acting cover letter's entirety to make it easy to follow and comprehend. Keeping the design similar to the applicant's resume is advised, as both job application documents are viewed together.
Adam SmithActor(555) 555-1234Oakland, CA 94607April 17, 2023Marta BeckerCasting DirectorREAL Studios(777) 777-6890Los Angeles, CA 90086
The applicant greets the hiring manager in the following section of the cover letter for acting, after crafting the header. A casting director hired by the production company reviews the cover letter for acting in most cases. It is best to refer to the casting director by name. The actor must try searching for the addressee’s name on the production company's website or LinkedIn page if it is not mentioned in the job posting. It shows the potential candidate is keen on going the extra mile to determine who reads their letter.
The casting director is addressed with a broader salutation, like "Dear Casting Director" or "Dear Hiring Manager" (if their official job title is unknown), if searching for their name was unsuccessful.
Dear Marta Becker,
The candidate highlights their best and most relevant professional roles and provides their key career objectives in the following section of acting cover letters. Writing a fascinating introduction is vital if an actor wants their cover letter for acting to stand out. The applicant must include acting awards they have won or been nominated for to grab the casting director's attention. The main goal must be to mention the most significant job experiences to make the hiring director want to read more about the applicant and consider their job application.
I am thrilled to express my interest in your casting call for the role of Eric in your upcoming project, "Fire and Ice." With a diverse array of experiences in the world of cinema and a track record of successful performances, including my role as Sam in Trent Taylor's blockbuster hit "The Darkest Night," which not only garnered praise from worldwide movie review publications but also earned me the honor of Best Supporting Actor at the Manhattan Film Festival Awards. This experience has honed my ability to seamlessly blend into diverse characters and exhibit a keen sense of comedic timing, skills that will breathe life into your upcoming project.
Body ParagraphThe body paragraphs are the main sections of acting cover letters. The candidate must elaborate more on their professional background and the information they provided in the introduction by focusing on performances that attract attention from the casting directors and adding any relevant skills and qualifications. The actor must consider explaining their approach to building a character, developing the character's backstory, identifying with them, and collaborating with other actors. Adding a bulleted list highlighting the applicant's previous performances and acting gigs is optional. A director or production studio previously worked with is mentioned. Expressing excitement and motivation for applying to the role is beneficial by highlighting the studio's or director's previous works that have impacted the candidate. The body of the acting cover letter consists of one or two paragraphs, of which the first one is dedicated to training and education, previous experience using facts and quantifiable measurements (for example, how long the production ran), while the second is focused more on the applicant's skills, like musicality, voice acting, and improvisation.
Closing ParagraphThe closing paragraph summarizes the actor cover letter's main points and expresses gratitude for the casting director's time. The actor voices their enthusiasm for the role and lets the hiring team know they consider themselves a serious candidate, restating their unique qualities over the other applicants. A strong call-to-action (CTA) is recommended at the end of the cover letter for acting, inviting the hiring team to contact the candidate for an audition. The applicant ends their actor cover letter with a closing salutation (such as Best Regards, Sincerely, Respectfully, and so on) and their name.
What to Include in an Acting Cover LetterAn acting cover letter must include relevant information about the actor’s work experience, talents, and the driving force behind their application. Below is a list with all the essential details that must be added to a cover letter.
Talent agencies receive dozens of daily applications, so attaching an attractive acting cover letter to an impressive resume is essential to stand out. A cover letter for actors is an excellent way for an actor to highlight their background, acting experience, and future career goals. Correctly formatting cover letters for actors, adding the necessary sections, and proofreading the letter to ensure correct information is vital. Performing artists craft cover letters for actors in a way that shows off their personality and best achievements since they work in a creative and highly competitive sphere. Actor Cover Letter Examples Below are the key takeaways of why the following acting cover letter example is good.
PRO TIP: Information provided in a cover letter for actors must be concise and straightforward. Candidates must focus only on the most relevant roles and how they are beneficial and applicable to the part the actor is applying for when sharing previous acting experience. Acting Cover Letter for Beginners
PRO TIP: Some roles require actors to be proficient in specific domains. Highlighting special skills (such as musical ability, improvisation, fluency in different languages, etc.) the actor possesses is essential to stand out and make the cover letter more memorable, especially if it’s relevant to the part applied for, as the acting cover letter example above shows. How to Write an Acting Cover Letter with NO Experience |
PRO TIPS:
1. Including a Referral. Adding a referral or mentioning a mutual acquaintance goes a long way when applying for a role, especially if they are well-known and highly respected in the industry. It allows the casting director to contact the mentioned person and gain more information about the actor if needed.
2. Focusing on Education. Applicants must opt for centering their acting cover letter for beginners on the education and training they acquired (such as attending drama school, improv classes, working with a dialect coach, etc.) if they lack significant acting experience. Higher education is not required for most acting professionals, but it is worth mentioning, mainly if it is a prestigious drama school.
3. Emphasizing Why the Character Resonates. Actors briefly explain how the character they want to audition for resonates with them. Sharing a personal anecdote makes the acting cover letter more personal and ties it together with how it helps their portrayal of the character.
Theatre Cover Letter
PRO TIPS:
1. Sharing Relevant Experiences. A compelling actress cover letter must clearly articulate the actress’s qualifications and share relevant experience to demonstrate their suitability for the role. It helps the casting director understand the candidate's value and creates a solid first impression by showcasing their expertise and commitment to the role, making them more attractive.
2. Stating Desired Role. A theatre cover letter must specify which character the actor is applying for. Casting directors receive numerous applications, and noting the desired role upfront helps them quickly identify the applicant’s suitability for the part, streamlining the casting process and increasing their chances of being considered for the role they are interested in.
Actress Cover Letter
PRO TIP:
A well-tailored actress cover letter is a game-changer, showcasing the actress’s deep understanding of the production company's unique projects, casting needs, and precise fit for the role at hand. The candidate demonstrates their commitment, versatility, and suitability for the specific production, increasing their chances of landing the desired role by customizing the actress cover letter.
FAQ
How to Format an Actor Cover Letter
To format an acting cover letter template, the candidate must design the perfect layout for their actor cover letter and have a concise and easy-to-follow structure using the proper paragraph order (Date and contact information, Salutation, Opening Paragraph, Body Paragraph, and Closing Paragraph).
The ideal length for a cover letter for actors is one page, while the word count must not exceed 400 words. The writing style the actor opts for, formal and professional or more personal and whimsical, depends on the recipient. It is best to research the company being applied to understand which style is suitable.
The applicant must pick a font that's easy to read (for example, Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman), choose a font size between 10-12 points, use standard page margins (one-inch margins on each side), apply single space (1.0-1.5 spacing) between sentences and double space (2.0 spacing) between paragraphs, save and share their actor cover letter in PDF. Acting cover letters must be named with the key information in the title (for example, Applicant’s Name—Job Title—Cover Letter.pdf) for easy recognition.
Following these instructions helps keep acting cover letters well-organized and legible.
The candidate must pay close attention to their introduction paragraph, the work experience they include, and the closing paragraph, as these three sections give them a higher chance of getting noticed and called for an audition and have a call-to-action (CTA) in their outro.
How to Address an Acting Cover Letter WITHOUT a Name
To address a cover letter for acting without a name, the candidate must opt for a more general greeting, such as "Dear Hiring Manager," as it shows professionalism. "Dear [Job Title]" is used if the recipient's title is known. Another option is to address the actor cover letter to the team or whole department, for example, “Dear Casting Department.”
The following salutations show professionalism even if they don't address the casting director by name.
A cover letter for actors must be addressed to the relevant person, like a casting director or producer, preferably by their name when it is known. Spending extra time trying to find the contact person's name is better because it shows the applicant has done their research and is serious about the job.
An actor must carefully read the job description to find the name of the hiring manager, search on the production company's LinkedIn (by going through their list of employees), visit their website (in the about us section), look through the company's social media, reach out to the hr department and be polite and professional and ask for guidance on who to address the letter to, stating they are interested in applying for a job at the company.
What are Good Keywords in an Acting Cover Letter?
Actor cover letter keywords show what an employer is looking for in a candidate, their skills, and abilities. Many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to go through several applications quickly and effectively. The cover letter for acting must include the actor's knowledge of different acting techniques and understanding of dialects. Actors have the option to list acting classes or improv workshops they have taken, even though formal education isn't required for actors.
The actor enhances a cover letter for actors by including their awards, achievements, and certifications and adding quantifiable achievements because it helps demonstrate to future employers what they bring to the table (for example, "increased viewer ratings by 10%").
The system looks for specific keywords to decide whether the applicant meets the requirements for the part or not.
Below are some keywords that are included in a cover letter for actors.
- Soft skills: Citing relevant soft skills the actor possesses, such as public speaking, communication, teamwork, and time management.
- Creativity: Emphasizing creative skills the artist has that help bring their character to life, including improvisation, flexibility, and memorization.
- Expression: Stating the actor's ability to manipulate their pitch, articulation, and volume, as well as putting on accents or dialects, like British, Australian, Russian, and others.
- Voice style: Mentioning the type of voice an actor possesses, like low-pitched, slow-paced, soft-spoken, etc.
- Language skills: Including the foreign languages the actor speaks, for example, Spanish, French, German, etc.
- Musical ability: Citing the actor's musicality and talents, like singing and playing an instrument (piano, guitar, violin, etc.)
- Danceability: Specifying all dance styles the actor is familiar with, like ballet, jazz, hip-hop, tap dance, etc.
- Gymnastics skills: Mentioning all the gymnastic talents the actor possesses, such as juggling, backflips, splits, aerial skills, etc.
- Education and training: Including online training classes the actor has taken if they earned a degree or certificate, got specialized training (for example, a stage combat course), or training with a renowned acting coach or prominent actor. It is best to leave the classes off if they were pre-recorded.
How to Write a Letter of Interest for an Actor
To write a letter of interest for an actor, the candidate must research the organization they are applying for to understand better how to customize their letter of interest. The applicant expresses their excitement to work for the company and highlights their unique talents and qualities (like musical ability or language skills) briefly and concisely, as well as shows knowledge of the company's vision and specific projects. The letter ends with a memorable statement, CTA, and the applicant's signature.
A letter of interest, or a letter of inquiry, is a document a prospective candidate sends to a production company, studio, or agency they are interested in working with. The letter uses a standard business letter format (applicant's name and contact information, date, addressee's information, salutation, brief introduction, main body, closing salutation, and signature). It highlights the actor's skills, talents, and reasons for inquiry. Sending a letter of interest helps establish a connection with the company as it increases the likelihood of landing a casting call or interview.
The key difference between a letter of interest and a cover letter is the circumstances in which the letters are sent. A cover letter is a document attached to an applicant's resume when applying to an advertised job opening at a company and tailored to the specific job description. A letter of interest, on the other hand, is sent even with no available job opening and is a broad statement demonstrating the candidate's interest in working for the company.
