Special skills on an acting resume are abilities you can use on camera or on stage, such as speaking another language, playing guitar, tap dancing, or riding horses. They help casting teams identify actors who can meet a role’s specific requirements.
This guide gives you skill lists to choose from, shows how to describe your ability, and includes skills-section examples you can adapt. For help with the rest of your document, see our actor resume examples.
Before you add a skill: Could you demonstrate it if asked? Choose abilities you can perform reliably, describe your level honestly, and leave out anything you have only tried once.
Special Skills for an Acting Resume by Category
Choose a category to find abilities you might include. These lists are starting points, not a checklist. Use only the skills you have, and adapt the example wording to describe your actual level.
Languages and Accents
Name the language you speak or the accent you can perform. Speaking a language and performing an accent are different abilities.
Languages
- English
- Spanish
- Hindi
- French
- Punjabi
- Mandarin Chinese
- Arabic
- American Sign Language
Accents and dialects
- General American
- Received Pronunciation (RP)
- Cockney
- New York City
- Southern US — specify region
- Scottish — specify region
Be specific: Write “Spanish — conversational” rather than “multilingual.” List an accent only if you can sustain it consistently through a scene.
Example resume wording
Languages: English — native; Spanish — conversational.
Accents: General American; Received Pronunciation (RP).
Singing and Musical Instruments
Describe what you can sing or play. Add your voice type, comfortable range, or instrument level when you know it accurately.
- Musical theatre singing
- Pop singing
- Classical singing
- Harmony singing
- Sight-reading music
- Beatboxing
- Acoustic guitar
- Piano
- Violin
- Drums
- Flute
- Bass guitar
Describe usable ability: Playing rehearsed songs and sight-reading unfamiliar music are different skills. Do not imply you can do both unless you can.
Example resume wording
Singing: Tenor; musical theatre and pop; harmony singing.
Instruments: Acoustic guitar — intermediate; piano — basic accompaniment.
Dance and Movement
List the styles you practise. Your description should make clear whether you have introductory training or can perform more demanding choreography.
- Ballet
- Jazz dance
- Tap dance
- Contemporary dance
- Hip-hop dance
- Salsa
- Ballroom dance — specify style
- Kathak
- Bharatanatyam
- Mime
- Physical theatre
- Contact improvisation
Name the style and level: “Tap — intermediate” tells the reader more than “good dancer.” Put course and teacher details in your training section.
Example resume wording
Dance: Jazz — intermediate; tap — intermediate; ballet — beginner.
Movement: Mime; physical theatre; contact improvisation.
Sports and Athletics
Include sports you can play convincingly. Regular practice, coaching, or competition can help you describe your level accurately.
- Basketball
- Soccer
- Cricket
- Tennis
- Badminton
- Swimming
- Volleyball
- Gymnastics
- Skateboarding
- Ice skating
- Surfing
- Rock climbing
Keep the claim accurate: Recreational experience is different from competitive experience. A sport on your resume does not establish that you are qualified to perform stunts.
Example resume wording
Sports: Basketball — recreational league player; tennis — intermediate.
Athletics: Lap swimming; indoor rock climbing — top-rope experience.
Stage Combat and Martial Arts
Separate choreographed stage combat from martial arts training. Name the discipline, training, and any current certification accurately.
- Unarmed stage combat
- Rapier and dagger stage combat
- Broadsword stage combat
- Quarterstaff stage combat
- Boxing
- Karate
- Taekwondo
- Judo
- Brazilian jiu-jitsu
- Kickboxing
Keep training and certification separate: Taking a class does not make you certified. If relevant, name the issuing organisation, discipline, and current credential. Martial arts experience does not automatically qualify you for screen fights or stunt work.
Example resume wording
Stage combat: Unarmed choreography training; rapier and dagger workshop experience.
Martial arts: Karate — brown belt; boxing — two years of regular training.
Driving and Riding
Include the vehicles or riding skills relevant to the role. State licence details when requested or useful.
- Manual-transmission driving
- Automatic-transmission driving
- Motorcycle riding
- Commercial vehicle driving — specify class
- Bicycle riding
- Mountain biking
- Horse riding — English style
- Horse riding — Western style
Describe what you can handle: For horse riding, state the style and gaits you can manage. Ordinary driving or riding experience should not be presented as stunt experience.
Example resume wording
Driving: Manual and automatic transmission; current car driving licence.
Horse riding: English style; comfortable at walk, trot, and canter.
Other Performance Skills
Some roles call for a particular performance ability. Name what you can do rather than using broad claims such as “versatile performer.”
- Short-form improvisation
- Long-form improvisation
- Stand-up comedy
- Puppetry — specify type
- Ventriloquism
- Three-ball juggling
- Close-up magic
- Character voices
- Audiobook narration
- Live presenting
- Teleprompter delivery
- Motion capture performance
Add useful detail: Write “three-ball juggling” rather than “circus skills.” List motion capture performance only if you have relevant training or experience.
Example resume wording
Performance: Short-form improvisation; three-ball juggling; hand puppetry.
Voice and presenting: Character voices; audiobook narration; teleprompter delivery.
How to Choose Skills for an Acting Role
Read the casting notice before editing your skills section. Look for abilities the character needs, then check whether you can perform them at the requested level. Put genuine matches first.
Pay attention to words such as “required” and “preferred.” If fluent Spanish is required, conversational Spanish does not meet that requirement. Keep your description accurate rather than changing it to match the notice.
A character who plays guitar and speaks Spanish
The notice asks for an actor who can accompany a simple song on acoustic guitar. Conversational Spanish is preferred. Filming takes place in Manchester.
- What the actor can do
- Play open-chord songs confidently and hold everyday conversations in Spanish. The actor also swims regularly and has taken an introductory screen acting course.
- What to put first
- Acoustic guitar and conversational Spanish directly match the notice. Describe both clearly so the casting team can judge the fit.
- What belongs elsewhere
- List the screen acting course under Training. Provide location and availability wherever the submission instructions request them.
- What can wait
- Swimming is not a priority for this role. It can remain in a short additional skills list if space allows, but it should not displace the requested abilities.
Relevant resume entry
Music: Acoustic guitar — open-chord song accompaniment. Languages: Spanish — conversational.
Keep skills, training, and personal traits distinct
“Tap dance — intermediate” describes an ability. “Weekly tap classes at [Studio]” records training. “Hard-working” describes a personal trait. These entries serve different purposes; they do not all belong in Special Skills.
If the notice does not request a particular skill, choose a short list of abilities you can perform reliably. Include enough detail to make each entry useful without listing every hobby.
Also applying for jobs outside acting? Our guide to what skills to put on a resume covers choosing abilities for workplace applications.
How to Write Your Acting Resume Skills Section
Write short entries that tell the casting team what you can do. Name the ability, then add a level or practical detail when it helps explain your experience.
Where to Put Special Skills
On a typical acting resume, Special Skills sits below your credits and training. Use that heading, then group related abilities on separate lines. A small selection can fit on one or two lines; a longer selection may need labels such as Languages, Dance, and Music.
- Keep credits under credits. A production you appeared in belongs with your acting experience.
- Keep classes under training. Include the course, school, or teacher there. List the ability in Special Skills only when you can perform it.
- Follow the requested format. If a casting platform has separate fields for languages or other abilities, complete those fields accurately too.
How to Describe Your Ability
Labels such as “basic,” “intermediate,” and “advanced” can help, but they are broad descriptions. Where possible, add a detail that explains what you can actually perform.
Broad wording Good at piano
More specific wording Piano — intermediate; chord accompaniment
Broad wording Speaks French
More specific wording French — conversational
Broad wording Horse riding
More specific wording Western riding — comfortable at walk and trot
For singing, include your voice type or comfortable vocal range if you know it. For accents, name the variety you can sustain. For certifications, use the actual credential and issuing organisation rather than a general claim such as “combat certified.”
Acting Resume Skills Section Examples
These fictional examples show three different skill combinations. Copy the format, then replace the abilities and levels with your own.
Beginner Actor Skills Section
An actor without professional credits who speaks two languages, plays an instrument, and practises a sport.
SPECIAL SKILLS
Languages: English — fluent; Hindi — native.
Music: Ukulele — chord accompaniment.
Sports: Badminton — regular recreational player; lap swimming.
Film and TV Actor Skills Section
An actor with specific accent, presenting, and driving abilities.
SPECIAL SKILLS
Languages: English — native; French — conversational.
Accents: General American; Received Pronunciation (RP).
Performance: Teleprompter delivery; short-form improvisation.
Driving: Manual and automatic transmission; current car driving licence.
Musical Theatre Actor Skills Section
A performer combining singing, dance, and instrumental abilities.
SPECIAL SKILLS
Singing: Mezzo-soprano; musical theatre; harmony singing.
Dance: Jazz — advanced; tap — intermediate; ballet — intermediate.
Music: Piano — intermediate; sight-reading simple vocal melodies.
Performance: Hand puppetry; three-ball juggling.
Acting Resume Skills Mistakes to Avoid
Check whether each entry gives an accurate picture of your ability. These six mistakes can make a skills section harder to trust or use.
Claiming more than you can perform
Writing “fluent Italian” after a short beginner course gives the casting team the wrong idea about your ability.
State your actual level. If you know only a few rehearsed phrases, leave Italian out of the skills list and record the course under Training.
Using descriptions that are too broad
“Dancing,” “accents,” and “musical talent” do not tell the reader which styles or abilities you can perform.
Name the style, accent, or instrument. Add a level or practical detail when it helps.
Example: Salsa (intermediate); violin (eight years of training).
Listing interests as abilities
Enjoying football or watching cooking shows does not establish that you can play football or prepare food convincingly on camera.
Include the activity only when you have a practical ability you can demonstrate.
Example: Football (weekly amateur league player).
Keeping skills you can no longer demonstrate
An old dance class or childhood instrument lesson does not necessarily reflect what you can do now.
Try the skill before keeping it on your resume. Update the description to match your current ability, or remove it until you have practised enough.
Calling a workshop a certification
“Certified stage combat performer” is misleading if you attended a workshop without earning that credential.
Describe the training accurately. List a certification only if you hold it, using its actual title and issuing organisation. Check its validity before submitting.
Training entry: Introductory unarmed stage combat workshop, [Provider], [Year].
Burying useful skills in a long list
A crowded paragraph of unrelated abilities makes it harder to find the skill requested in the casting notice.
Put the relevant abilities first and group the rest under clear labels. Remove entries that add little useful information about what you can perform.
Example: Languages: German (fluent). Music: Cello (intermediate).
Acting Resume Skills FAQs
What counts as a special skill on an acting resume?
A special skill is an ability that could be useful for a performance, such as speaking a language, playing an instrument, performing an accent, dancing, or riding horses. Name the specific ability and include it only if you can demonstrate it. Acting courses and techniques usually belong under Training.
What skills can I list without professional acting experience?
You can list abilities developed outside professional acting, including languages spoken at home, instruments you practise, dance training, and sports you play regularly. You do not need a paid acting credit to include a genuine skill. For a young performer, our child actor resume examples show how to arrange skills alongside training and early performances.
Can I include a skill I am still learning?
Include it only if you can already perform something useful and describe that ability accurately. For example, “Piano (basic chord accompaniment)” is clearer than “Pianist.” If you still need step-by-step instruction, list the class under Training and wait before adding the skill.
Should I list teamwork and communication as special skills?
These qualities matter during rehearsals and filming, but they do not describe a specific performance ability. Use the Special Skills section for abilities such as languages, dance styles, and instruments. If an application asks about collaboration or communication, support your answer with a real example. Our guide to soft skills for a resume explains how to describe these qualities in workplace applications.
How many special skills should I put on my acting resume?
There is no fixed number. Include the abilities you can demonstrate and describe clearly within the space available. Put skills requested in the casting notice first. Do not add weak or irrelevant entries just to make the section longer.
Should my casting profile and resume list the same skills?
The abilities and proficiency levels should agree. A casting profile may have room for a fuller list, while your resume contains a shorter selection. Complete any dedicated language or skills fields the platform provides, and update both versions when your ability changes.
