How to Write an Acting Cover Letter (With 6 Examples)

An acting cover letter is a short note that goes with your headshot and resume when you contact an agent, manager or casting director. Its job is to give them one reason to open your materials. Keep it under 200 words, address a real person and make one specific point about why you fit.

Use the builder below to write yours in a couple of minutes, or scroll down for six examples, a template and the mistakes that get letters skipped.

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Fill in the blanks and your letter writes itself. Copy it into an email, or save it as a PDF or Word file you can edit later.

Do you need an acting cover letter?

Yes, whenever you email an agent, manager or casting director directly, or a theater asks for one. You usually don’t need a full letter for a self-tape or online casting submission: a two-sentence note in the site’s message field does the job. Open calls and agency web forms often want only your materials.

What to include in an acting cover letter

• Their name. Use the agent’s or casting director’s name, never “To whom it may concern”.
• Who you are, in one line. Your type, where you’re based and your union status: SAG-AFTRA, AEA or non-union.
• Why them. One specific reason: a client they rep who’s like you, a show they cast, or a referral. A referral from a client, teacher or casting director is the strongest opening you can have, so name it in the first line.
• Your strongest proof. One or two credits, a training program or a recent booking. Not your whole resume.
• The ask. A meeting, an audition or consideration for a role.
• Links. Headshot, resume, reel and your casting profile, as links rather than big attachments.

How long should an acting cover letter be?

Keep it under 200 words, or about one screen on a phone. Agents and casting directors skim dozens of submissions a day, so three or four short paragraphs is right: who you are, why them, your strongest credit and the ask. Submission notes on casting sites should be two sentences.

How to find the right agent or casting director

A letter to the right person beats ten letters to the wrong ones. Before you write, find a name and a reason.

• Agency websites list their agents and often the departments they cover.
• IMDbPro shows which agents rep which actors, and which casting directors are on current projects.
• SAG-AFTRA’s list of franchised agents shows which agencies are approved to represent union members.
• Your network. Teachers, classmates and actors you’ve worked with can tell you who is taking new clients, and may refer you.

Know which kind of agent you’re writing to. Commercial agents book ads and print work, while theatrical agents handle film, TV and stage. Say which you’re looking for. If you’re unsure whether you need an agent or a manager first, see agent vs. manager.

Acting cover letter examples

Pick the one closest to who you’re writing to, then swap in your own details.

Example 1: Cover letter to a talent agent

Subject: Submission: [Your Name], [type, e.g. leading man, 30s], SAG-AFTRA, NYC

Dear [Agent’s name],

I’m a SAG-AFTRA actor based in New York, and I’m writing because of your work with [client or type you rep]. I play [your type], and I’d love to talk about representation.

Recently I booked a co-star on [show] and played [role] in [play] at [theater]. I trained at [program] and study on-camera with [teacher].

My headshot, resume and reel are below. Thank you for considering me. I’d welcome a meeting at your convenience.

[Your Name] · [phone] · [email]
Headshot and resume: [link] · Reel: [link]

Why it works: the subject line tells the agent your type, union status and city before they open it, and the body names a client, so it’s clearly not a mass email.

Example 2: Cover letter to a manager

Subject: Seeking management: [Your Name], [type]

Dear [Manager’s name],

[Referrer’s name] suggested I reach out. I’m a [type] actor in [city] with representation from [agency, if any] for commercial work, and I’m looking for a manager to help build my theatrical career.

This year I [booking, festival film or showcase]. I’m focused on [the kind of roles you’re going for], and your list, especially [client], is the path I’m aiming for.

Materials are linked below. I’d be grateful for 15 minutes to talk.

[Your Name] · [links]

Why it works: it opens with the referral, the strongest reason a manager has to keep reading, and says exactly what kind of career help you want.

Example 3: Cover letter to a casting director

Subject: [Your Name] for [Role], [Project]

Dear [Casting Director’s name],

I’m submitting for [role] in [project]. Like [character], I [specific overlap: grew up in a fishing town, speak fluent Spanish, play guitar]. I’ve played similar roles in [credit] and [credit].

My self-tape for the sides is linked below, along with my headshot and resume. Thank you for your time.

[Your Name] · [union status] · [links]

Why it works: it’s about the role, not you. One real overlap with the character does more than a list of credits.

Example 4: Cover letter for a theater audition

Subject: Audition request: [Your Name], [season or production]

Dear [Artistic Director or Casting Associate],

I’d like to be considered for [production or season] at [theater]. I saw [past production] last year and loved how the company [specific detail].

I’m an AEA [or non-union] actor with credits including [role] in [play] at [theater] and [role] in [play]. I have a classical and a contemporary monologue ready, and I sing [voice type].

My headshot and resume are linked below. Thank you for considering me.

[Your Name] · [links]

Why it works: it shows you know the company’s work and confirms you have audition material ready, which is what a theater needs to book you a slot.

Example 5: Cover letter with no experience

Subject: New actor seeking representation: [Your Name]

Dear [Agent’s name],

I’m a newly trained actor in [city]. I recently finished [program, e.g. a two-year Meisner program at a named studio] and performed [role] in our showcase.

I’m reaching out because your agency develops new talent, including [client]. I’m a [type], comfortable with [skills: accents, stage combat, improv], and ready to work.

My headshot, resume and a short reel from my showcase are linked below. Thank you for your time.

[Your Name] · [links]

Why it works: with no credits to lead with, it leads with training, a showcase and special skills, and picks an agency known for developing new talent.

Example 6: Submission note (online casting)

Casting sites like Actors Access give you a short note field. Two sentences is right.

I’m a natural fit for [role]: I [specific overlap]. Self-tape is attached, and I’m local to [city] and available for the shoot dates.

Why it works: casting reads hundreds of these. One specific match, plus “local and available”, answers the two questions they have.

Weak vs strong: the same letter, fixed

Weak:

To whom it may concern, my name is Sam and I have always loved acting since I was a child. I have attached my resume, headshots and reel, and I would love to be represented by your agency. I have done many plays and student films and I am a hard worker. Please contact me.

Strong:

Dear Dana Ruiz, I’m a non-union actor in Chicago and I’m writing because you rep [client], whose path I’d love to follow. I play grounded leading men in their late 20s. This spring I played Biff in Death of a Salesman at [theater] and finished a two-year Meisner program. My headshot, resume and reel are linked below. I’d welcome a meeting.

The strong version names the agent, gives a type and a city, picks one credit, links instead of attaching, and ends with a clear ask, all in under 80 words.

Acting cover letter template

Subject: [Your Name], [type], [union status], [city]

Dear [Name],

[Line 1: who you are and why you’re writing to them in particular.]

[Line 2 and 3: your strongest proof: one or two credits, training or a recent booking.]

[Line 4: the ask, and that materials are linked below.]

[Your Name] · [phone] · [email]
Headshot: [link] · Resume: [link] · Reel: [link]

Email or printed letter?

Put the letter in the body of the email, not as an attachment. Agents rarely open attached letters, and big files can land in spam. Almost all submissions are by email or a casting site now. If a theater or agency asks for mail, print it on one page, clip it to your headshot and resume, and keep the same short length.

How to follow up on an acting cover letter

Wait three or four weeks, then send one short email that replies to your original message. Mention anything new, like a booking, a class or a new reel, and thank them again. If you still don’t hear back, move on and try again when you have a new credit to share. For more on etiquette, see reaching out to agents and managers.

Mistakes that get cover letters skipped

• Writing to everyone at once. A letter with no name, or with the wrong agency’s name, gets deleted.
• Retelling your resume. Pick your best one or two credits. The resume does the rest.
• Going long. More than about 200 words, or more than one screen on a phone, won’t be read.
• Huge attachments. Link to your headshot and reel instead of attaching big files.
• No subject line. Use the format in the examples so it’s clear what the email is.
• Typos. Read it out loud before you send it.
• Pasting in your bio. A bio is written in the third person for programs and websites; a cover letter is written in the first person to one reader.

Your cover letter only opens the door. Your headshot, acting resume and actor bio do the rest, so make sure they’re ready too. When you get the call, here’s how to prepare for an audition.