Acting Cover Letter Examples— 2023 Guide & Templates to Fill

“Write a cover letter,” they said. “It’ll be worth it,” they said.

Well, it certainly is worth it—take it from the most experienced career experts out there. But how to write one that will actually benefit you? One that will make the effort "worth it?"

Here’s a piece of good news:

Your “Dazed and Confused” days are over, ‘cause you’re about to see the best acting cover letter examples, and… learn how to write your own. So fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be an exciting ride.

In this guide you'll find:

• Two acting cover letters: for experienced and beginner actors.
• The steps of how to write a cover letter for acting jobs.
• An actor cover letter template you can copy, fill in with your own information, and have ready in 15 minutes.

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Looking for a different cover letter example? See these:

• Art Cover Letter Example
• Production Assistant Cover Letter Example
• Administrative Assistant Cover Letter Example
• Digital Marketing Cover Letter Example
• Business Cover Letter Example
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• Graphic Design Cover Letter
• Good Cover Letter Examples for All Jobs

Still haven’t written a resume? Check out these guides:

• Acting Resume
• Theater Resume
• Video Editor Resume
• Production Assistant Resume
• Best Resume Examples for All Jobs

Before we move on to learning what to include on a cover letter, let’s take a look at two great cover letter examples:

1. Acting Cover Letter Examples

First, let’s see how Alice, a professional voice over actress, crafts an impressive acting cover letter. 

Alice is applying for a voice actor position at a video game production company. She hasn’t really done voice acting for video games before, but she has a lot of other relevant skills and experience that she perfectly leverages.

Here’s how she does it:

Example #1: Acting Cover Letter to Casting Director

There you have it—a sample acting cover letter certain to win the casting director over. But what if you’re only just starting your journey as an actor and have no professional experience to show off?

Don’t worry.

An acting cover letter with no experience just needs a different focus. So let’s take a look at Vicki’s sample. 

She’s a recent acting graduate that hasn’t yet worked professionally. As an ambitious drama student, she took part in various university projects that polished her skills and gave her something to show off in her application.

Take a look at how she wows the casting manager:

Example #2: Acting Cover Letter for Beginners

You now know what professional cover letters look like!

Now it’s time to write your own.

2. How to Write an Acting Cover Letter?

Here’s how to write a cover letter that gets you gigs:

1. Format Your Acting Cover Letter Like You Would a Formal Business Letter

Well-written screenplays are not only clean, but also structured in a way that pushes the story forward.

You know what makes that possible?

Proper formatting.

So make sure to format your cover letter in a way that makes it easier for casting managers to digest, so it doesn’t land in the trash.

How to Format an Acting Cover Letter

• Choose a font that’s clean, elegant and consistent with the font you used for your resume.
• Left-align all your contents, don’t use justification.
• Use the 3-paragraph arrangement: Introduction, Motivation, Call to Action.
• Single space your document and set 1-inch margins on all sides.
• Fit your cover letter onto one page—it's the right cover letter length.

Expert Hint: If you don’t feel like playing with formatting, you can use ready-made Word cover letter templates or Google Docs cover letter templates.

2. Put Your Full Contact Details in the Cover Letter Header

If you want your name to be as recognizable as Jennifer Aniston or Leonardo DiCaprio, you better put it everywhere you can to make it start ringing a bell.

Why don’t you start with including it in your cover letter heading section?

Your cover letter, your resume, and your headshot should all have a header that’s identical—just in case they get separated.

Here’s an easy template that you can use:

Acting Cover Letter Sample: Header

Place your header in the top-left corner of your document, and now you’re ready to start writing your cover letter.

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3. Introduce Yourself and Identify the Role or Position You Are Interested In

FADE IN:

Begin your cover letter with addressing the casting director or agent by name.

Why?

You want to make it personal—and that’s your main hook. Introduce yourself, state the role or job you’re applying for, and give them a brief summary of your experience and skills.

Here’s a template for you to use:

Acting Cover Letter Example: Introduction

Now remember—casting directors are the most powerful people in the industry. So make sure to always use a polite and professional greeting. 

If you know the casting manager’s gender, the best way to address your cover letter is by using either “Mr.” or “Ms.” Try not to use “Mrs.” unless you are 100% certain of the person’s marital status. For example:

If you know their first and last name, but are unsure of their gender, start with “Dear” followed by the full name:

Avoid greetings like “Dear Sir or Madam” or “To Whom It May Concern”, unless you’re a time-traveler actor from the Silent Era.

Expert Hint: If you’re represented by an agent, do not contact casting directors behind your agent's back. 

4. Portray Your Best Acting Skills & Experience

Do you have a handful of roles that you have taken as an actor? Finished a prestigious acting school or took a class with the most well-known director?

Do a close-up of this action and use all your previous experience to show how gifted you really are.

Make them an offer they can’t refuse. 

Use the following cover letter tips and template for your motivational paragraph:

Cover Letter for Acting: Motivation

Make yourself look like a superstar, and just wait for that phone to be ringing off the hook with callbacks and audition opportunities!

Expert Hint: Are cover letters really necessary? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the acting profession is pretty steady and the average pay isn’t that great. So, especially if you’re an applicant with no experience, you’re going to need a cover letter.

5. Show Them That You Admire Them

Hollywood and big egos go together, like Batman and Robin. 

That’s why you also have to sprinkle in a compliment or two to show them you are up-to-date with their work. 

Because an acting cover letter should be short and sweet, try to fit this section into two or three sentences. 

Try this sample:

Acting Cover Letter Template

Put a smile on their faces and show real enthusiasm. Authenticity is scarce these days, but also highly appreciated.

Expert Hint: You don’t want your cover letter to look generic, that’s why personalizing your cover letter make it really stand out. Most recruiters first weed out those applications that look mass-produced, as they are not special, nor memorable.

6. Ask for an Audition When Ending Your Acting Cover Letter

Before you send your application—

End your cover letter strong. Ask for a meeting or audition. Don’t be shy and show them what you’ve got. 

Just like this:

Acting Cover Letter to Agents: CTA

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Key Points

When writing a professional acting cover letter, remember to:

• Format your acting cover letter properly.
• Address your letter to a casting director or manager directly.
• Back up your experiences with results or metrics, if possible.
• Show motivation and enthusiasm for the part.
• End with a solid call to action.