Writing an actor cover letter

Your covering letter must always be typed, never handwritten. The only hand writing on the letter should be your signature and the addressed envelope. All day to day business is done with professional typed correspondence and the acting world is no different.

The letter should always be addressed to the agent’s or director’s name. Never write ‘Dear Sir/Madam’ or ‘To whom it may concern’. When doing a mass mailing always make sure that each letter is addressed personally to the recipient. If you are unsure of the contact name, do some research by using the internet or calling the office and getting the name right!

Your covering letter should always be a ‘one off’ personal letter that should be related to the acting job you are applying for, rather than a generic one that you keep on file. The letter should include the details of the role you are applying for, your previous acting experience, your acting skills and details of acting training. Also mention if you have been referred to the agent or director by a third party and make sure this appears at the start of the letter.

Depending on the job you are applying for, you need to highlight any specific skills that would be required for that particular role. For example, your martial arts training would be great to mention if you are applying for an action packed blockbuster movie, but best to leave it out if you are looking to do a Chekov! Another good tip is to include any awards that you may have received, anything like this will certainly get you noticed.

You should always include your name, address, phone number, email address and website link. This should be placed in the top right hand corner of the letter. The letter should also contain the date and the recipients details on the left hand side. Give the letter a header title which relates to the role or production you are applying for. If you omit these details and the letter goes astray, it will mean very little to whoever finds it and will probably be ‘filed’ into the bin.

As we mentioned in our CV writing top tips, all correspondence should be written and printed on good quality paper as this adds extra credibility and professionalism. Print the letter using black ink on white or very light coloured paper. Remember that this letter is your first contact with the agent or director and first impressions mean a lot. Don’t send smudged or creased printed letters, chances are that they will end up in the bin.

You need to get yourself across clearly and you must keep it simple. Most agents or casting directors might not have time to read a long winded letter so your letter will most probably be ‘speed read’. Don’t ‘waffle on’ or give them a full blown history of your acting career. If applying for a role, you will be only one of hundreds of applications, so be brief and keep to the point. Your letter should include a brief introduction about yourself, why you are applying for the role and what experience you have. Grab their attention.

Always refer to your CV and headshot in your covering letter. A lot of actors don’t actually do this and they are missing a trick. Directing them to the enclosed material will enable them to get a better picture of you. The covering letter works as a brief introduction to you and what talents you have. The letter, CV and photo should all work together i harmony to describe you perfectly. Also remember to place a label on the back of your headshot which includes your name and contact details.

Mention any enclosures that you have attached to your covering letter such as CV, complimentary tickets and head shot. This is usually typed at the bottom of the letter. See the example of a good letter, which you can find at the bottom of this article.

Always check your spelling. Don’t rely on your computer spell check alone. Get someone to check the spelling and grammar for you. Also make sure you have the correct contact name, writing or misspelling the recipients name does not make a very good impression.

If you are sending out a whole ‘mail out’ to numerous agents or directors, contact their office first to see if they are actually looking for actors at the moment. Sending out CV’s, letters, headshots and show reels can end up being VERY expensive and time consuming so it would be a waste of your time, money and energy if they are not actually looking to extend their ‘books’. Not to mention the cost of all the additional envelopes and postage, which is always on the increase.
Did you know that only around 2% of ‘mass mailings’ actually end up on the agents desk? The other 98% ends up in the paper shredder. Agents receive hundreds of actor letters and CV’s every week, so do your research and only send out letters to agents that are looking for new clients. A great tip is to get yourself an actor website designed, the link can be easily emailed to agents and casting directors and can include a CV, news, galleries and a showreel.

It’s not a good idea to write a good covering letter to then fold it so it can be crammed into a smaller envelope. Use an envelope that can contain your UNFOLDED letter, CV and headshot. Spend a little more money on ‘Do Not Bend’ envelopes or write it in bold letters in the top left hand corner of the envelope. Sometimes these small details can be the key to getting your details to an agents desk rather than the shredder.

Some acting jobs have a deadline. They use these deadlines for a reason. Send your details well before the deadline so it can get there in good time. Alternatively you could drop the letter off personally to the director’s or agents office if it happens to be nearby. If this is the case, always be dressed smartly, be polite and always tell the receptionist something like, “Hello, would you mind giving this to Mr Smith? He is expecting it.” This works every time!

If you are seeking representation make sure your covering letter to an agent is filled with confidence! Some actors send letters that can contain a ‘pleading tone’ to them. Don’t forget, you are a great product for them to sell. Your covering letter should also be more of an invitation for them to come and see you in a show. Include some complimentary tickets and organise some interval drinks at the bar, which is always appreciated. It’s always a good idea to be in a good theatre production before contacting an agent. That way they can see you working at your very best and also proving that you are talented and can make THEM money! Include a show reel if you have one, it can make all the difference.
If you are not currently in a show or don’t have a show reel, explain in your letter how much you have been in demand recently by briefly describing what you have been working on or who you have been working with.