Your Spotlight CV: How to make it stand out

Your Spotlight CV is often the first impression you make on a casting director - and a clear, honest one is far more powerful than a padded-out epic.

Here are a few tips we regularly give to our clients:

1. Keep It Clear and Easy to Scan

Your CV should be simple to navigate at a glance. Make sure it’s easy for someone to quickly pick out your strongest credits, your training, and your skills without having to dig.

A tidy layout and logical flow make a huge difference - and casting directors will thank you for it.

2. Avoid the Fluff

Don’t be tempted to fill space with filler. Be honest about the work you’ve done and avoid listing roles that don’t reflect your professional level. Casting directors are looking for clarity and confidence, not quantity.

Padding out your CV can actually distract from the good stuff - and it’s the good stuff we want front and centre.

3. Reels – Better to Have Something on your Spotlight CV Than Nothing

Try to get some kind of footage on your Spotlight. Whether it’s a professional reel, previous work, or a self-shot monologue - it helps people see what you can do.

If you’re filming something yourself, keep the background neutral, make sure you’re well lit and clearly heard, and rehearse a few times to get the framing right.

It doesn’t have to be perfect - but it should be your best work.

4. Credits First, Keep It Relevant

Put your most relevant credits at the top - especially if they align with the kind of work you’re aiming for now. Even if you trained years ago, it’s the work you’ve done most recently that needs to stand out.

5. Training and Workshops - Keep It Curated

Your training matters - but don’t list every single masterclass or online course you’ve ever done. Prioritise formal training and anything that genuinely reflects your growth as a performer.

Be selective. Less is more.

6. Special Skills and Accents: Be Honest and Show a Bit of You

Can you actually do that skill to a castable level? If not, take it off. Saying you’re Grade 8 Flute when you haven’t played since school won’t do you any favours. That said, do include anything unique - we have a client who’s a trained pastry chef and it’s come in so handy for commercials!

This section is also a great chance to show a little of your personality - you never know what might become a talking point in a casting or meeting.

Include: accents, instruments, fight skills, sports, languages - anything genuinely useful that reflects you at your best.

7. Headshots - Keep Them Honest, Keep Them You

We always say it’s all about the eyes. Your headshot should feel engaging, current, and reflect exactly who you are right now.

Some people like to upload every variation they’ve ever had, but we recommend a smaller, well-curated set that shows range. A few strong images will always work harder than a dozen similar ones.

Want to go deeper on headshots?

👉 Read our blog post on what makes a great headshot - full of practical tips and advice on what to look for, what to avoid, and how to make sure your headshots do you justice.