Some would argue that an actor's resume is even more important than his or her headshot. The purpose of this article is to go back over the reasons for creating an acting resume and also what to think about when you are putting one together.

How to write an acting resume: An actors resume is exactly one side of one page, and you will usually want to have it stapled 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. So the main thing is to understand what auditioners want from you. 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 will come pretty naturally to you.

The main thing to have in mind is that your acting resume is not an extension of you as an actor, it is an extension of the part you want to play. So, you should twist and pull at the facts of your professional life until they fit, as closely as possible, the specific audition. I would never tell you to lie; just list the parts of your acting career in an order which suits the demands of the part. This is a little bit of an extra investment in terms of time and energy, but it's not that big an investment. The fifteen minutes that you spend for each audition could very well spell the difference between getting a part or not getting it.