Skills for Acting Resume: What to Include and How to List Them
Casting directors scan an actor’s resume for skills for acting resume sections that make you stand out in seconds. Unlike a corporate CV, an acting resume lives and dies by its special skills list — the abilities that can land you a role without a single line of dialogue. This guide breaks down exactly which skills to include, how to format them, and how to avoid the mistakes that make casting directors skip your submission.
Key Takeaways
- Special skills are non-acting abilities (languages, sports, musical talents, etc.) that make you more castable for specific roles.
- List only skills you can perform at a professional or near-professional level — never exaggerate.
- Group skills into clear categories (e.g., Languages, Sports, Dance) so casting directors can scan them in seconds.
- Use a single-column layout and a clean font to keep your acting resume ATS-friendly and easy to read.
- If you lack skills, start building them now through community classes, online tutorials, and consistent practice.
| What to Do | Why It Matters | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Audit your real abilities honestly | Casting may test you on the spot; faking a skill can cost you the role | 30 minutes |
| Categorize skills into clear groups | Helps directors find what they need instantly | 15 minutes |
| Prioritize rare, in-demand skills | Sets you apart from hundreds of other submissions | Ongoing |
| Use a clean, single-column resume format | Ensures both human readers and ATS software parse your skills correctly | 5 minutes with a builder |
| Update skills after every new class or certification | Keeps your resume current and shows you’re actively training | 10 minutes per update |
Why Special Skills Matter on an Acting Resume
When a casting director posts a breakdown for a role that requires horseback riding, they don’t want to sift through 500 resumes hoping someone mentions it. They scan the special skills section first. If you have the skill and it’s clearly listed, you jump to the top of the pile — sometimes even before actors with more credits.
Special skills are not acting techniques like Meisner or Stanislavski. Those belong in your training section. Special skills are concrete, demonstrable abilities that a production might need: speaking a foreign language, playing a sport, performing a stunt, or even something as niche as juggling or unicycling. They make you a one-stop solution for a director who needs an actor that can also do X.
For background and day-player roles, special skills often determine who gets booked. A commercial casting for a basketball player will filter submissions by that skill. A TV show needing a violinist will call in actors who list violin — even if the role has no lines. Your special skills can open doors that your headshot and credits alone cannot.
Categories of Special Skills to Include
Break your abilities into clear groups. This makes your resume scannable and shows range. Here are the most common categories with examples.
Languages and Accents
List any language you speak conversationally or fluently, plus the proficiency level: native, fluent, conversational, or basic. Accents and dialects go here too. Examples:
- Spanish (fluent)
- French (conversational)
- Mandarin (basic)
- British RP accent
- Southern American accent
- Russian dialect
Sports and Physical Activities
Include sports you can play competently, martial arts, and physical disciplines. Be specific — “basketball” is better than “sports.” If you have a belt rank in martial arts, mention it.
- Basketball (competitive)
- Soccer (varsity level)
- Yoga (advanced)
- Stage combat (certified)
- Fencing (foil, épée)
- Rock climbing
- Swimming (lifeguard certified)
Dance and Movement
List dance styles you’ve trained in. Even a few months of classes can be worth listing if you’re comfortable performing the style on camera.
- Ballet (10 years)
- Hip-hop
- Tap
- Salsa
- Contemporary
- Pole dance
Musical Instruments and Singing
Mention instruments you play and your vocal range if you sing. Productions often need actors who can play live on set.
- Piano (grade 8)
- Guitar (acoustic, electric)
- Drums
- Singing (tenor, baritone)
- Beatboxing
Performance and Circus Skills
These are the quirky, memorable skills that can land you niche roles.
- Juggling (5 balls)
- Unicycling
- Magic tricks
- Fire eating
- Stilt walking
- Mime
Licenses and Certifications
Any official credentials that might be relevant on set.
- Valid driver’s license (standard, motorcycle)
- Passport (no travel restrictions)
- CPR certified
- Scuba diving (PADI open water)
- Weapons handling permit
Other Unique Abilities
Anything else that doesn’t fit neatly above but could be useful.
- Ventriloquism
- Impressions (list specific celebrities or characters)
- Speed reading
- Coding (Python, HTML)
- Cooking (professional pastry chef)
How to Choose the Right Skills for Your Acting Resume
You don’t need to list every hobby. Casting directors value authenticity and relevance. Follow these steps to curate your list.
- Audit your abilities honestly. Write down everything you can do at a level where you’d feel comfortable demonstrating it in an audition room. If you took three guitar lessons five years ago, leave it off.
- Check your type. A character actor in their 40s might list different skills than a young ingénue. If you often audition for gritty dramas, stage combat and firearms handling are more useful than ballet. If you go out for family-friendly commercials, juggling and cartoon voices might be gold.
- Research what’s in demand. Look at breakdowns on casting sites. Notice which skills appear repeatedly — currently, bilingual actors, actors with driving skills, and those with musical abilities are frequently requested.
- Prioritize rare skills. Almost everyone lists “running” or “swimming.” If you have something uncommon like archery, horseback riding, or fluency in a less common language, put it near the top of the section.
- Remove filler. “Good with people” or “hard worker” are not special skills. They waste space and make you look amateur.
How to Format the Special Skills Section
An acting resume has a standard layout. The special skills section typically sits near the bottom, after your credits and training. Here’s how to format it for maximum impact.
Use a Clean, Single-Column Layout
Casting directors and their software need to parse your resume quickly. A single-column format is the safest choice for both human readers and applicant tracking systems (ATS) that some larger casting platforms use. Avoid multi-column layouts, tables, or graphics in the skills section. For more on resume formatting that passes ATS scans, see our guide on best resume fonts for ATS readability.
Group Skills with Clear Headers
Instead of a long, unorganized list, use small subheadings. For example:
Special Skills Languages: Spanish (fluent), French (conversational) Sports: Basketball, rock climbing, stage combat (certified) Dance: Hip-hop, salsa Instruments: Piano (10 years), guitar (acoustic) Other: Valid driver’s license, CPR certified, juggling
This structure lets a casting director find exactly what they need in a glance.
Be Specific and Honest
Never write “sports” without naming them. “Basketball (competitive)” tells a director you can actually play on camera. If you’re not fluent in a language, don’t claim fluency — you may be asked to improvise in that language during an audition.
Keep It to One Page
An acting resume should never exceed one page. If your special skills list is long, trim it to the most relevant and impressive items. You can always tailor the list for specific submissions.
Examples of Special Skills for Different Types of Actors
Here are sample special skills sections tailored to different actor profiles.
The Commercial and Print Actor
Languages: Spanish (native), English (fluent) Sports: Yoga, running, cycling Dance: Salsa, swing Instruments: Ukulele Other: Valid driver’s license, passport, experience with infants and pets
The Stage and Musical Theatre Actor
Dance: Ballet (10 years), tap, jazz, contemporary Instruments: Piano (grade 6), violin (grade 4) Singing: Soprano (belt to D6) Accents: British RP, Cockney, Southern American Other: Stage combat (rapier, unarmed), juggling
The Action and Stunt Performer
Martial Arts: Taekwondo (black belt), Krav Maga Sports: Parkour, rock climbing, scuba diving (PADI certified) Weapons: Firearms handling (licensed), archery Other: Motorcycle license, high fall training, wire work experience
The Voiceover Actor
Accents: Russian, French, New York, Texan Impressions: Christopher Walken, Morgan Freeman, SpongeBob Singing: Baritone, beatboxing Other: Ventriloquism, cartoon character voices (demo reel available)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even experienced actors sabotage their resumes with these errors.
- Lying or exaggerating. If you list “horseback riding” but have only been on a pony once, you’ll be exposed the moment you’re on set. Casting directors talk. A reputation for dishonesty follows you.
- Listing acting techniques as special skills. “Meisner,” “improvisation,” and “cold reading” are training, not special skills. They belong in the training section.
- Using vague terms. “Athletic” means nothing. Name the sports. “Musical” is useless. Name the instruments.
- Including outdated skills. If you haven’t practiced a skill in years and couldn’t perform it tomorrow, remove it.
- Formatting that hurts readability. Fancy fonts, colored text, or graphics can confuse ATS software and annoy busy readers. Stick to a clean, professional look. You can build an ATS-optimized acting resume for free using the ResumeMate resume builder.
How to Build Skills When You’re Just Starting Out
If your special skills list feels thin, don’t panic. You can develop marketable abilities without spending a fortune.
- Take community classes. Parks and rec departments, community colleges, and local studios offer affordable courses in dance, martial arts, languages, and circus arts.
- Use online resources. YouTube tutorials, apps like Duolingo, and platforms like MasterClass can help you build basic proficiency in a language, instrument, or skill.
- Join amateur sports leagues. Even a recreational basketball or soccer league gives you enough experience to list the sport confidently.
- Volunteer on student films. Student directors often need actors who can do something specific. It’s a low-pressure way to practice a skill on camera.
- Document your progress. Keep a log of classes, certifications, and performance videos. When you’re ready to add a skill to your resume, you’ll have proof of your ability.
For more strategies on building a resume when you have limited experience, read our guide on creating a resume for an internship with no experience — many of the same principles apply to actors starting out.
Using ResumeMate to Build Your Acting Resume
Your acting resume needs to look professional and be easy to update as you gain new skills. The ResumeMate AI resume builder offers clean, single-column templates that casting directors and ATS systems can read without issues. But it’s not just about picking a template — it’s about using the tool strategically to showcase your special skills in the best light.
For example, when you open the ResumeMate builder, select the “Actor” template. In the special skills section, you can add subheadings like “Languages” and “Sports” and list your skills with proficiency levels. The builder automatically formats them in a clean, single-column layout that casting directors prefer. You can also duplicate your resume and tailor the skills section for different auditions — one for commercial roles emphasizing family-friendly skills like juggling and cartoon voices, another for action roles highlighting martial arts and stunt work. This level of customization takes only a few clicks and ensures you always send the most relevant version.
After building, run your resume through the ResumeMate score checker. It analyzes your resume’s structure and gives you section-by-section feedback, flagging issues like missing contact info or unclear section headings that could cause your resume to be overlooked. For more detailed guidance on structuring your acting resume, check out our acting resume template guide. With these tools, you can create a resume that not only lists your skills but presents them in a way that gets you noticed.
FAQ
Q: What to put in special skills for an acting resume?
A: List non-acting abilities that could be useful on set or stage, such as languages, sports, dance styles, musical instruments, martial arts, accents, and unique talents like juggling or magic. Only include skills you can perform at a professional or near-professional level.
Q: What are special skills for an acting resume?
A: Special skills are concrete, demonstrable abilities outside of acting technique. They include things like speaking a foreign language, playing a sport, performing a dance style, or having a certification like a driver’s license or scuba diving. They help casting directors quickly identify actors who meet specific production needs.
Q: What are some special skills for an acting resume?
A: Examples include: Spanish (fluent), basketball, stage combat, piano, hip-hop dance, juggling, valid passport, CPR certified, British accent, and horseback riding. The key is to list skills that are specific, verifiable, and relevant to the roles you pursue.
Q: How many special skills should I list on my acting resume?
A: Aim for 8–15 skills grouped into categories. Quality matters more than quantity. A focused list of genuine, well-described skills is far better than a long list of vague or exaggerated abilities.
Q: Can I list a skill if I’m still learning it?
A: Only if you can perform it competently on demand. If you’re a beginner, wait until you’ve had enough training to feel confident in an audition. You can always add it later.
Q: Should I include soft skills like “team player” or “punctual”?
A: No. Soft skills are expected of every professional actor and don’t differentiate you. They take up valuable space and make your resume look unpolished.
Q: How do I prove my special skills in an audition?
A: Be prepared to demonstrate the skill if asked. If you list guitar, bring a guitar to the audition or have a video ready. If you list a language, you may be asked to speak it. Never list a skill you can’t back up.
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