How to Audition for Netflix (7 Simple Strategies) (2024)

By the end of this article, you'll know exactly how to audition for Netflix without an agent, plus specific, actionable steps you can take to start getting access to those auditions quickly.

No fluff in this guide, just real, actionable advice. Ready to get started?

​Free Resource: List of 76 Actor Types + How to Find Yours in 10 Minutes

​Before we dive into the steps, there are three things to consider about

auditions:

1. Netflix is very open to unfamiliar names and faces.One of the great things about Netflix is their willingness to work with people who are brand new. This means most production companies working under Netflix are more open to casting actors with limited credits and experience (compared with production companies who work with major networks like Fox or HBO).
2. Netflix does not conduct auditions in-house. They hire outside production companies who do the casting and shooting of their shows, which means there is no one you can go directly to at Netflix with questions about how to find auditions.Don't try emailing or calling them with questions about how to get in their shows; their customer service won't be able to help you.
3. ​Netflix is a great place to work asan actor. Most actors who book jobs on Netflix shows are paid well and treated fairly, since almost all Netflix productions are done through SAG-AFTRA. This means you should definitely consider trying to get into some of their productions because Netflix is a great way to start growing your career!

​

So how do you audition for Netflix?

Well, the biggest issue is figuring out where to find the auditions. Most websites don't publicly post Netflix casting calls because Netflix' breakdowns are hidden on a website called

, which is only accessible to licensed agents and managers.

In other words, if you don't have an agent, you'll never get Netflix auditions.JUST KIDDING!

Here are six ways to access Netflix auditions if you don't have an agent:

1. Use online casting websites.Sites like Actor's Access and Backstage regularly post casting calls for Netflix shows, and although they're frequently for lower budget (i.e.less popular) shows, that shouldn't matter too much if you're still in the process of buildingyour resume and reel. You can also use sites like 4 Star Casting or Central Casting to find background work on Netflix shows and then befriend people on set. Later, you can use those friendships to get offers for speaking roles.
2. ​​Network with people at events.You can also go to film festivals, shows, showcases, industry expos, and other industry events to meet people. Find out whether they're involved in Netflix shows or ask if they know anyone who works with Netflix, such as casting directors, writers, or producers.Always have a specific list of people you'd like to meet (such as the main casting directors from Netflixfound at the bottom of this article). That way, as you speak with people, you can ask if they know anyone on your list.
3. Getspecialaccess to hidden Netflix auditions.This advanced strategy is typically used by full-time working actors to generate consistent auditions when they are in-between agents.If you're willing to put in a bit of work, you can start getting directly invited to audition for high-level Netflix productions, even if you don't have an extensive resume or reel.You'll cold-email casting directors (or if you prefer, meet them through classes/social media)and keep in touch for a few months by providing added value. Because you've given so much to them (before you expect to gain), these casting directors will feel compelled to invite you to audition for their next major Netflix project– and you'll have a leg up on allthe other actors auditioning (because the casting director already knows you)!
   1. Free Step-by-Step Guide:3Strategies to Get Casting Directors to Invite You to Netflix Auditions(includesword-for-word emailtemplates and a tutorial on how to become friends with any Netflix casting director– even if you've never met)
4. Volunteer:Many Netflix casting directors need readers for auditions. You can volunteer your time to read for free, whichcan be a great way to learn how the casting process works and make a good impression on the casting director. You can also volunteer for other events to meet people, such as assisting at Netflix film festivals, helping up-and-coming Netflix directors on set, and much more.
5. Make sure your Special Skills are up to date in your online resumes.Did you know lots of casting directors search Actor's Access for actors with specific skillsets? If you can play piano, do an accent, or fight,make sure your skills are listed because occasionally you'll be called into Netflix auditions simply because they found you via a keyword search of yourspecial skills. I recommend you skimmyUltimate Guide to Acting Resume Special Skills.
6. Make calls and get in directories.If you're based in a smaller city, it's actually not too difficult to get into a casting director's directory of actors they contact directly for auditions. Netflix sometimes utilizes small, independent casting offices when shooting on-location in small towns, so keeping top of mind with your local casting office can sometimes get you a major opportunity.Just do a bit of googling to find your local casting offices and then send them your headshot, resume, and a few clips showing your acting ability.
   1. Related: What are Headshots?
7. Sign with an agent (or licensed manager) and ask them to submit you directly.Notice this was not in the first six! I had to include it though because getting a licensed talent repis one of the fastest ways to start getting consistent auditions for Netflix. Of course, signing with an agent is easier said than done, which is why I created a free guide calledThe Ultimate Guide to Get an Acting Agent. You also might be interested in learningthe difference between an agent and a managerso you know which to target based on where you're at in your career.

​
If you follow the above points consistently (especially #3), your chances of starting to get Netflix auditions will skyrocket!

Now that we've talked about how tofindthose Netflix auditions, it's also important to cover how to actually get called in:

​Here are a few things you can do to get called in for Netflix auditions more easily, even if you don't have a ton of credits yet:

1. Build up at least 4-5 screen acting credits from indie productions.Not having any credits on your resume will always make it more difficult to get called in for roles, especially high-level roles like those in Netflix shows. If you perform for free in some smaller productions, those credits will grow over time, giving casting directors more reasons to trust you.
2. Ensure your marketing materials are taken seriously.You MUST have afantastic headshot, professionally formatted resume (here are my 3 free resume templates), and some sort offootage or reel showing your acting ability. Without those three primary marketing materials you'll never get invited to any Netflix auditions (no matter how often you submit yourself). You should also consider putting together a website to showcase your work and make you look established, (though this is not a requirement).
3. Be hyper specific about the kinds of roles you're right for.This is WAY more important than most actors think. If you're clear on your Types, you're much more likely to find roles you have a shot at booking, and you're much more likely to stand out and be remembered by the casting director because you're just a "natural fit" for the character. It's also WAY easier to ask casting directors to invite you to major auditionssince they'll know how to "place you."

​

If you're looking how to audition for Netflix,

.​

That link will take you to a website where you can submit yourself online!

Alternatively, you can check out

, which provides in-depth, detailed, and up-to-date information on all current auditions for TV shows and streaming shows. It's an amazing resource!

​Most casting directors follow a straightforward process when casting:
​

1. Ideally, they already know some actors:Most casting directors keep a rolodex of their favorite actors. If they know someone they like and think could be right for a certain role, they'll reach out directly andinvite the actor to audition. Usually they'll fill in about 10-20 slots out of their 30-40 available audition slotsin this fashion.
2. Post the casting call:Next, they go online and post a breakdown, saying they’re looking for someone to play a specific role. They give some of the basics, including a physical description and general outline of the character’s personality so that applicants who aren’t a fit hopefully disqualify themselves before even submitting.
3. Wait for responses:They can get 3,000-5,000submissions within the first few days of posting if they post the project onActor's Accessor another major online submissions website because so many actors are looking for work. If they just post toBreakdown Services(onlyagentscan access this), they'll still get 2,000-3,000 submissions.
4. Narrow them down as fast as possible:They often ask their assistant to quickly sift through all the actors who submitted by looking at headshotsandresumesto narrow disqualify those who are unprofessional and do not have what they are looking for.
5. Look at reels and cover letters of the top 100-200 people:The final 100-200 people they’re left with will typically have theircover lettersread (if they are shorter than 2-3 brief paragraphs), and they’ll have theirreelsand/or websites checked. At this point, the casting director wants to ensure that the actors they’re going to audition meet certain criteria, such as beinghighly talentedandhaving a brand that fits the characterthey’re auditioning for.
6. Invite the top 50-100 actors to submit a self-tape:They'll now ask the actors to send footage in that will give them an idea of whether the actor is qualified to come in for an actual audition. After watching theseself-tapes, the top contenders are invited to fill in the remaining 10-20 audition slots.

Some of the top casting directors for Netflix include:

• David Rapaport
• Lyndsey Baldasare
• Elizabeth Barnes
• Jennifer Euston
• Barbara Fiorentino
• Allison Jones
• Amber Horn
• Lara Mayfield
• ​Julie Schubert​

Want to connect with these casting directors and have them start inviting you to auditions most other actors don't even hear about?

Download my free step by step guide: 3Strategies to Get Casting Directors to Invite You to Netflix Auditions (includes word-for-word email templates and a tutorial on how to become friends with any Netflix casting director – even if you've never met).

Most of the information in this article still applies, except you have one major benefit going for you: Most casting directors don't expect your resume to have many credits. They also don't expect you to have much footage.

This means it's typically easier to get auditions for Netflix as a 12 or 13 year old (or younger). Once you start getting older than that, it becomes slowly more and more difficult.

Knowing how to get Netflix auditions is important, but it's just one small part of growing your acting career.

If your goal is to act full-time, you should know these 3 numbers:

• 40-60 Submissions–This is how often full-time, working actors submit themselves(whether they have an agent or not) each month.
• 10-20 Auditions–This is how many times full-time working actors audition (or at leastrecord and submit self-tapes) each month.
• 3-5 Bookings –This is how often full-time working actors book real,paid acting jobs each and every month.

If your numbers aren't there yet, that's OK! It's certainly noteasy to audition and book that much.

But those areactual, real numbersfrom busy, working actors

.

Those busy, working actors started at the beginning– for them, thebiggest question swirling in their minds at the time was:

How do I get taken seriously by casting directors when I don't have good credits or footage? And how do I get credits/footage without being taken seriously by castingdirectors?

It's the classic actor's catch 22.

When we're struggling to get our careers off the ground, our minds can slip into "desperation mode" and start looking for quick-fix solutions. We'll ask ourselves questions like:

• "Should I take another acting class?"
• "Do I need better headshots or should I pay to shoot a reel?"
• "What's the fastest way to get an agent?"

But questions like those mean you're focused onTactics, instead ofStrategy.

Think about it this way: Would you bake a cake by randomly sliding a pile of flour, eggs, and chocolate into the oven? Of course not! How you combine the ingredients, the temperature you cook it at, and for how long are all just as important.

Similarly, the long-term, well thought-outstrategyyou follow as you grow your acting career matters. A LOT.

That's why "strategic thinking" is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself as an actor.

So today I'd like to give you a gift: 3 tools specifically designed to help you start thinking and operatingstrategically.

These tools have helped over 14,000 actors so far, many of whom have gone on to:

• BookBroadway roles
• Landnetwork televisionand Netflix shows
• Signwith agents and managers
• And much more – faster than you'd expect (you can seesome success stories here).

My freeActor's Toolkitwill help youBLAST through the actor's catch 22 so you start getting WAYmore auditions and bookings every month:

If you enjoyed this article about how to audition for Netflix, you might be interested in some of these:​
​

• How to Become an Actor: The Ultimate Guide
• How to Find Auditions: The Ultimate Guide
• How to Prepare for an Audition: The Ultimate Guide
• ​Commercial Headshots vs. Legit Headshots
• Actor Unions: The Ultimate Guide