In acting, a cover letter is usually a one-line submission note or a short email, not a page-long letter. A note on a casting site should tell casting one useful fact about you and this role. An email to an agent, manager or filmmaker should be personal, specific, under 300 words, and lead to one link. Below are templates with placeholders, plus what our experts said never to write.
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Not the kind you'd send for an office job. Actors write three short things instead: a note attached to a self-submission, a pitch email to an agent or manager, and occasionally a direct note to a filmmaker about a role. Kym Jackson's rule for each: its only job is the next step. The subject line gets the email opened, the email gets your reel watched, the reel gets you the meeting.
For the full agent email process, from subject lines to follow-ups, see how to email an acting agent. This page covers the wording.
One line that helps casting cast the role, or nothing. Blair Hickey and Brian Wold of CastingAbout call it parroting: repeat back the specific thing the breakdown asks for, if you have it. If the role needs a piano player, your note is "Plays piano."
The other notes they rate are a reminder that you've met this casting director, and a recent booking in a similar tone. A note about your new comedy booking doesn't help on a dark drama. Casting sites allow long notes; use a line.
Swap the words in capitals for your own, and use only what is true:
Plays SKILL (for example: Plays piano. Fluent Spanish. Former military. Rides horses.)
Met you at EVENT, MONTH YEAR.
Just booked ROLE TYPE on PROJECT.
One of these per submission is plenty. If none applies, leave the box empty. For where and when to submit, see how to self-submit.
Kym's structure keeps it under 300 words: who you are and what you play, why you're writing to them, a little background, up to six bullet points, one link, and an invitation to meet. Her rules are personal, professional and precise.
The "why them" line matters most. Look at their roster and their work, and find something genuine: a gap your look or skills could fill, a shared school or cause, a client's work you admire. One or two sentences. Never fake a connection. Keep background short too: Kym suggests no more than two sentences for agents and two to five for managers, who tend to care more about your journey.
Subject: YOUR NAME, referred by REFERRER (or: YOUR NAME, YOUR STANDOUT SKILL OR CREDIT, meeting request)
Hi FIRST NAME,
I'm YOUR NAME, an actor based in CITY. I play TWO OR THREE WORDS THAT SUM UP YOUR CASTING.
I'm reaching out because ONE SPECIFIC, GENUINE REASON YOU CHOSE THEM.
ONE OR TWO SENTENCES OF BACKGROUND.
• Training: SCHOOL OR CLASS
• Recent work: PROJECT, ROLE
• Skills: SKILLS YOU COULD DO ON CAMERA TOMORROW
My reel: ONE LINK
Would you have time to meet in the next two weeks? Thank you for reading.
YOUR NAME
Attach your resume, and let your signature carry a small headshot and your other links.
No, but it helps. Kym's view: a referral means someone your reader trusts has already vetted you, so put the referrer's name in the subject line. Without one, her clients still land meetings when the email is personal, quick to read and clear about the value they add.
Manager Chris Roe told us he reads every cold email, tries to answer them all, and has signed clients who found him by researching who represents actors they admire. Don't stretch a connection, though. He says to let a friend introduce you rather than emailing their agent claiming to know them, and our career strategist adds that you should only mention relationships you can genuinely back up.
Kym calls this going a level above submitting. When a role is right for you, send the filmmaker a short email or message: you love the project, the character resonated because of something specific, you didn't want to get lost in the submissions, here is your link. Only do it when your work is at the level of their project.
Hi FIRST NAME, I just submitted for ROLE in PROJECT. The character resonated with me because SPECIFIC REASON, and I didn't want to get lost among the submissions. My profile: LINK. I'd love the chance to read. Thank you, YOUR NAME
Casting director Risa Bramon Garcia's caution: write as a fellow collaborator, not a needy actor, and don't post your reel into the DMs of people you don't know.
Carefully, and usually not. Greg Apps told us never to reach out directly; the exception he gave is a congratulations card by post when one of their projects is honoured, with no headshot inside. Amanda Mitchell prefers her office's general submissions email to anyone's personal address, and no phone calls. She respects actors who research what she's casting and put themselves forward only when they're absolutely right for a role.
Blair Hickey and Brian Wold say to use a casting director's email only if you already have a professional relationship. One casting office told them generic "consider me for anything" mail felt insulting.
Short. Kym's general email advice: a friendly opener, only the information the reader needs, no long explanations, and if you have more than two points, number them so they can reply to each. Test every link before you send.
Set up a signature once. Branding expert Ryan Basham suggests a small headshot, your stage name, email, phone and social links, plus one link to your footage, ideally your Actors Access profile. Never your home address. Kym's tip is to crop the photo small so it can't blow up in someone's inbox.
Not a traditional one. Actors write short submission notes on casting sites and brief pitch emails to agents, managers and filmmakers.
One line that helps casting cast the role: a skill the breakdown asks for, a past meeting with that casting director, or a recent booking in a similar tone. Otherwise leave it blank.
Under 300 words, with one main link and an invitation to meet.
No. A referral helps your email get opened, but a personal, specific email can still land meetings without one.
Usually not. The casting directors we asked prefer actors to come through submissions or an existing relationship, and dislike generic requests.
If the email you are writing is to an agent or manager, our free pitch guide is the place to start.
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