Top Tips for Writing an Actor’s Biog
Most people hate talking about themselves. They find it almost excruciating therefore to write down their achievements as a biography. However, we’re often called upon to write short actor’s biogs as actors. For programmes, funding applications, or websites.
Your actor’s biog is part of your sales pitch to the world, and what you write loudly reflects how people think of you.
1) Always use the Third Person Narrative
Hannah trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where she…
2) Start the list of credits like this:
Her credits include:
3) Don’t say ‘Hannah is a professional actress’ or ‘Hannah is a trained actress’. They expect that.
4) Keep it brief. Talk about where you trained. Talk about what you’ve done, but break it down.
Hannah McKeown trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where she won the Pilsbury Doughboy Award for Best Individual Performance. Her theatre credits include Accidental Death of an Anarchist (RCS), Translations (Donmar Warehouse), Oleanna (National Theatre of Scotland). Her film credits include: Cloud Atlas and World War Z.
5) Don’t waffle. Don’t talk about your hopes and dreams.
Hannah has always longed to work in the film industry, she has a natural affinity for science fiction and fantasy, as she read a great deal of fantasy and sci-fi novels as a child.
Hannah is delighted to be performing the role of Eva in Reich – the Musical.
I looked through 20 profiles online. 20 of them were needy, desperate, unprofessional, and mentioned complete irrelevancies.
6) Finish with something recent or something coming.
She will play Puck in the Bard in the Botanics production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. OR She has recently filmed What We Did on Our Holiday with David Tennant and Billy Connolly.
7) Don’t lie or boast.
8) Keep it brief.
Name. Brief Training Experience. Acting Credits.
What if you don’t have any training or any acting credits?
Hannah was born in Edinburgh, The Time Traveller is her first professional performance.