Acting Cover Letter: Template and Tips

Whether you are contacting an agent, a director, a producer or a casting director, you will need to write an acting cover letter. It is an opportunity to give a little extra information about yourself that you would not generally include on a CV, and it is the first thing they read, so it is worth getting right.

A cover letter you send when applying for an audition will be different from one you send to an agent for representation. Either way, the three most important things to remember are:

1. Keep it short.
2. Be professional.
3. Give them a reason to want to contact you.

Here is how to do each of those.

Addressing the letter

If you are applying for representation, it is very important that you address the letter to a specific agent within the agency. Do not write "To whom it may concern". That is impersonal, and it suggests that you have not done any research and are perhaps mass-emailing. You can find an agent's name by logging into IMDb Pro (if you are not a member, you can sign up for the free trial), or, if you have already used your free trial and do not want to rejoin, try searching for the agency on LinkedIn. The agent you address your email to will make sure your portfolio circulates, so do not worry about limiting yourself by adding only one agent's name.

With casting directors and job applications, the same rules apply. Be personal, and do your research.

Keep it short

Your letter should take less than 20 seconds to read. Agents and casting directors are extremely busy, and they do not have time to read an essay. Include the most relevant points in one or two short paragraphs, then let your CV and showreel do the rest of the work.

Mention recent happenings

Include a line or two about something that has happened recently or will happen soon. Some examples: you recently graduated from a full-time acting programme; you have been performing on stage in a show, preferably with good reviews; you will be performing on stage in the near future; you will be appearing in a TV show on a particular date.

The bottom line is this. If you are booking roles, an agent will see you as profitable and will want to earn commission on your work. If you are applying for an audition, the casting director will see that you are a trusted actor who has been cast before, so they are not taking a risk by auditioning you. If you do not have experience yet, explain that you have recently graduated from a particular programme.

Contact information

Always give them the option to call or email you back. Include your phone number, and make sure the email address you write from is professional. Perhaps keep ILoveTaytoCrisps@gmail.com for friends and family.

Personality

Even though your cover letter needs to be short and to the point, there is always room for a little personality. A generic cover letter with the right words is good; a cover letter with a little flair is even better.

Spelling

Always double-check your email. Spelling matters. Proofread anything you are going to send out, and if you can, ask a friend or family member to proofread it as well. Make sure every word and name is spelled correctly, especially their name and the company name. You want them looking at the information you are providing, not at spelling or grammar errors. Grammarly has a free browser extension that checks spelling and grammar automatically; if spelling is not your strong point, try it.

Label everything

One of the most important things to do when sending a submission is to make sure everything you send has your name on it. That includes your CV, your headshots and any stills. If the files are downloaded and saved somewhere, the casting director or agent will know your headshot and CV at a glance, and nothing gets lost.

Sample acting cover letter to an agent

Here is a sample cover letter you might send to an agent for representation. It is only a guide, and you should edit it to suit your own experience and personality.

Dear Sally,

My name is John. I am an actor currently seeking principal representation, and I would love to meet if you are available for a chat.

My recent highlights include the guest-starring role of Tony in the new series All for One, directed by Grace Smith, which airs on RTÉ One this Tuesday at 8pm. I have gone from playing a devious older brother in All for One to a fun-loving young father, Fred, in the theatre production Future Times, which opened last night at Lift Theatre Dublin. The show was given five stars by Theatre Roof and runs for the next three weeks. It would be a privilege to have you watch me work, and I have attached a ticket.

Here is a link to my showreel. My CV and two headshots are attached.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to give me a call.

Sincerely,

John

Good luck with it. Whether you are writing to an agent or applying for a casting, the same package travels with you: a short letter, a current CV, a good headshot and a showreel. On Actorly, your profile carries all of that, and when you apply to a casting the casting director sees it in one place. It is free to join and free to apply. Create your free actor profile and start applying.