International biographies and our top ten tips on writing a good biography for overseas
- Follow the industry-standard format for biographies of the country to which you are marketing yourself.
- If you're freelancing, update your biography with your new contact details. Include your contact details even if you have an agent in Australia. Include your overseas agent/manager's contact details instead of (or as well as) your Australian agents'.
- It's not necessary to include your MEAA details, but it may be worth including any unions that you belong to in the country to which you are marketing yourself.
- Include the country (other than the one you're marketing yourself to) of the production e.g. City Homicide (Aust).
- Use the correct spelling for the country you're promoting yourself in. For example, in some countries it is 'theater' not 'theatre'. The exception is if the word is part of a name e.g. use Sydney Theatre (not Theater) Company.
- Avoid using abbreviations that may not be understood overseas e.g. use Melbourne Theatre Company, not MTC.
- Don't try to lie about or embellish your training, credits and awards because you think you may get away with it overseas. You will get caught in any lies in the end.
- If you're going to pretend to be American, for example, be ready to explain any Australian credits on your biography.
- Include English and/or Australian accent under "skills."
- Have your biography translated (by a professional), if necessary.
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