Actors Cover Letter: Writing Guide, Examples & Tips

A good cover letter allows you to showcase your personality, express your passion for the job, and gives you a chance to establish a personal connection with the casting director. It also allows you to briefly talk about some of the most outstanding achievements you listed in your resume.

Actors are entertainers, and while this career seems glamorous, it requires dedication, skills, and training. Hiring managers get thousands of applications every time there is an acting job which means you have to stand out if you want to be considered.

Let's look at some tips in this article to help you write a cover letter that gets you your next acting job.

How to write an acting cover letter from zero

Your cover letter should be clear, concise, and easy to follow. The structure of your actor cover letter should have the following sections:

• A header
• A greeting
• A catchy introduction
• A compelling cover letter body
• The conclusion/call to action
• A professional sign-off

Write an effective header

A header is the first section of your cover letter. It contains your name and contact information, including your phone number, email address, and home address. This section is critical because if you don't add it to your cover letter or make a mistake, the hiring manager will not reach you. You also need to add the date right after your contact information.

The addressee's details will also be in this section after your details. You need to do your research and ensure you add the correct information because failure to do so may show a lack of attention to detail.

Examples

Introduce yourself efficiently and professionally

The next section is the introduction once you have your name and contact information on your actor cover letter. But before we get to the introduction, don't forget the greeting, which is an integral part of the cover letter.

When you meet someone, it is courteous to greet them, and it is not any different when you are writing a letter because the letter is your first contact with the recipient.

Here are a few tips to help you with this section.

• It is always better to include the name of the person you are sending the letter to because it has a personal touch.
• If you don't know the reader's name, you can always call the company to inquire.
• It is also understandable if you cannot find the recipient's name, in which case you can use the greeting 'Dear Sir/Madam' as it acknowledges both genders.
• If you know the exact gender of the recipient, use the appropriate one.

The introduction is an important section that determines whether the recipient reads the cover letter or not. It is a short paragraph that needs to be catchy and exciting to compel the reader to read the rest of your actor cover letter.

Some of the things you can add to this section include the following:

• You can express your interest and passion for the job.
• Talk about the position you are applying for.
• Mention an achievement or qualification that will get the attention of the hiring manager.

Correct example

CORRECT

Dear Nathan,

I am excited about the supporting actress position for the upcoming Undateable TV show posted on your website. I was particularly excited when I saw this opportunity because it is similar to my previous role in the Young and Free production, which I recently finished working on.

The example above starts with a personalized greeting and gets directly to the point. It shows the hiring manager that the actor is excited about the opportunity, mentions the exact role they want, and states an achievement that makes the applicant a good fit for the position.

Incorrect example

INCORRECT

Dear Nathan

I am writing to you because I would love to get an opportunity as an actor. I am interested in one of the roles in your production and would love to audition for you. I have worked on many TV shows and would love to showcase my skills on one of your shows.

This example does not specify which role they want, so the director in charge of casting will not know which position they are applying for. The candidate has not mentioned their experience and any previous roles that make them fit for the available role.

Reveal why you're the right actor for the role

Once you have introduced your actor cover letter, it's time to showcase the talent and achievements that make you the best candidate. If you are unsure about what to include in this section, you can consider checking out some cover letter samples to give you some ideas.

This is your chance to use your creativity to describe your achievements in a way that will help you stand out. You cannot be boring with your language or your descriptions. If you have worked on some big productions with some famous directors, don't leave it out.

In the first paragraph, you can list any previous roles relevant to the one you are applying for. If you don't have any, you can talk about any other position you have had before and show the transferable skills useful in the new role. In this section, you can also add your educational qualifications and training, especially if you went to a prestigious acting school that is worth noting.

In the second section, you can mention any other experience you have from different acting types that are not precisely related to the role you are applying for. For example, if you are applying for a supporting actress role in a drama series, you may include your experience working on Broadway plays and talk about how that experience will help you in the new role.

Correct example

CORRECT

As an actress for the past eight years with experience in TV and film acting, I believe I will bring Jane to life and make her relatable to the audience as intended. In my previous role as Alice on the TV show Young and Free, I took additional acting classes to bring out her charming character, making her a favorite of many who watched our show.

In addition to my TV and film career, I also have previous experience in theater acting and voiceover acting. I have appeared in various plays, including Jack and Jill(Directed by Edward Stack), The Seagull(Directed by Michael Moore), and The Phantom and the Opera(Directed by Ida Simmons). Some of the skills I learned on these sets will be useful in the new position.

The example above highlights the candidate's experience, mentions a previous job relevant to the new position and an achievement from the same. It also lists other work that the candidate has done that is not necessarily related to the job but has valuable transferable skills.

Incorrect example

INCORRECT

As an actor who has worked on many productions, I believe I have what it takes to work on your upcoming film. I have experience working on action movies, drama, and comedy series and have learned a lot over the years.

Finish your actor cover letter with a Call to Action (CTA)

A call to action on your actor cover letter directs the reader to take a specific action. It is important to include one because it may be the main reason why the casting director reads your cover letter. A great call to action can interest the casting director to call you for an audition, and an unimpressive one can be the reason you miss out on an audition.

When writing a cover letter, the best way to write your call to action is by expressing your appreciation for their consideration, reminding them why you are the best person for the job, and requesting the next steps for the audition.

Examples of how to write a CTA for an acting cover letter

There are many different calls to action you can consider when writing your actor cover letter. We'll look at some of them.

Tips to optimize your CTA for your actor cover letter

• Do enough research on the role you want to audition for.

Take the time to research the role you want and what it entails, and include some of the keywords and specifications in your call to action.

• Remember to thank the director for their consideration.

Thanking them for their consideration makes them feel appreciated for taking the time to read your cover letter and resume.

• Summarize your greatest achievement

Remind them why you are the best person for the position by summarizing the most relevant achievement to the job.

• Show your enthusiasm for the audition.

State that you are looking forward to the audition by stating the same and mention some of the qualifications you may have that you would like to discuss further.

The farewell: how to create the best impression

The farewell is as essential as the first sentence on your actor cover letter. You may not hear from the recruiter if you write an exceptional cover letter but fail to sign off correctly.

Example of how to farewell correctly

Here are some possible farewells you can consider for your actor cover letter.

• Sincerely yours,
• With best regards,
• Kind regards,
• Most sincerely,
• Yours truly,
• Respectfully yours,

What you have to avoid

Some of the phrases you should avoid when signing off include:

• See you soon,
• Cheers,
• Yours Faithfully,
• Best wishes,
• Warmest Regards,
• Take care,

Tips to enhance your actor cover letter

As we've said in this article, a cover letter is one of the essential tools when applying for an acting job. Therefore, it is vital to ensure that you write a cover letter that stands out to increase your chances of landing the audition.

Some of the ways you can improve your acting cover letter include:

• Adding the right keywords in the job description to your cover letter. Some recruiters may scan cover letters on ATS systems, and having these keywords will help you progress to the next level of the recruitment process.
• Personalizing your cover letter to suit each acting job. It is not advisable to use one cover letter for all the acting jobs you apply for.
• Highlight the most relevant achievements.Your acting cover letter should be short and precise, so focus on your most relevant achievements and leave everything else out.
• Proofread your cover letter. It is vital to proofread your actor cover letter to avoid multiple spelling mistakes and other errors, which may indicate a lack of attention to detail and lead to disqualification.

Key points: writing an actor cover letter flawlessly

Here are the main key points we have learned from this article.

• A well-written cover letter is essential in helping you secure that audition.
• Start your document with a catchy introduction to interest the recipient in reading the rest of your cover letter.
• Keep your letter short and precise but ensure you include your top achievements.
• Remember to add a call to action to your actor cover letter.
• You will need to write a professional farewell as you conclude your cover letter.
• You can consider using a cover letter sample to help you write an outstanding document that gets the hiring manager's attention.

Complement your acting cover letter with an acting resume

The acting cover letter is essential in your job search, but we cannot deny the importance of an acting resume. You cannot send out an application without a resume because it is one of the main requirements for any job. You can check out some of our resume examples and resume templates to help you create an acting resume that gets you your dream job.

FAQs

How do you write a cover letter for an actor?

You will start with the header, add a greeting, a catchy introduction, the body, and a sign-off/farewell.

1. What are the top three tips for actor cover letter writing?

• Personalize each cover letter to the acting job you are applying for.
• Keep it short and precise and stick to the most relevant achievements.
• Write an attention-grabbing introduction to compel the reader to read the rest of your cover letter.

How long should the letter be?

The acting cover letter should be one page long.

How do you write an acting cover letter with no experience?

You will follow the structure of writing a cover letter and include any experience you have that allows you to talk about transferable skills that will be useful in the acting job.