Actors are always excited to work in LA, NYC, London, and other major hubs. It’s a great ambition, but the industry is not as international as you might think. If you’re dreaming of working internationally as an actor, you’re absolutely not alone! But how do you actually get a US or UK, or other international agent when you’re based elsewhere?
The path that most people imagine isn’t usually the one that works. The smartest path is to build momentum at home first. Then, once you have real credits and traction at home, international doors swing open much more freely! Below, we bust some big myths and dive into the smart strategy to sign with an international agent.
How Do I Get an Agent in Another Country?
There are two main pathways to getting an international agent for your acting. It can be quite challenging to sign with an American agent if you’re not already working at a high level in your own country.
Generally, the best path is to focus locally first: build credits, traction, and a profile where you are. Once you have that momentum, it becomes much easier to connect with agents in the US (and the UK) because you have a body of work that shows your ability and helps with things like visas.
There is another method, though, which is to just take the plunge and make the move! We’ll discuss both methods in more detail below.
Professional headshots, a strong CV/casting profile, and a compelling reel
First, though, let’s get clear on what you’ll need when approaching any agent! This applies when looking locally and internationally.
It will be basically impossible for you to sign with an overseas agent without the following materials. Agents typically want to see:
- Professional headshots
- A strong CV/casting profile
- A reel (or 2 to 3 excellent self-tapes that showcase your acting at its best)
The goal is to give them a clear sense of your range and your strengths as an actor. Quality matters more than quantity here! For an even more in-depth explanation, check out our resource on how to get an agent.
Method One: Starting From Scratch
Every day at StageMilk, we get questions centred around getting opportunities in bigger industries. The first, and undoubtedly harder, method is the ‘all-in’ approach.
If your heart is set on working in a certain industry, and you have the capacity to do so, go do it! Make a plan, set sail, and make that place your home. There will be issues and obstacles, but generally I’ve seen most actors overcome these if the passion is there. This approach usually means starting from scratch and swallowing a big serving of humble pie as you move forward.
Make sure that you investigate options for visas, work rights, and that you make sure you’ve got a plan on where you’ll live and how you’ll make money. It’s hard to be calm and confident actor if you’re not sure where your next meal is coming from!
Method Two: Build Momentum Locally, Then Go International
The second option (and our preferred advice here at StageMilk) is to focus local first. Build momentum in your own country or city. It’s always the easiest path. Locally you already have connections, you understand the culture and accent, and everything just flows more easily. Because of that, you’ll usually do more consistent and higher-quality work.
Things like independent productions are a great idea to build your profile. That way, when you do reach out to foreign agents, you’re presenting yourself as a proven actor with credits and momentum, not just another hopeful among thousands. Additionally, it’s virtually impossible to sign with an international (UK, US) agent without having a solid profile in your home country.
Once you’ve established yourself locally, or if you happen to land a big Netflix or film role (which can happen anywhere, no matter how small the industry), it becomes much easier to sign with overseas agents and step into an international career. But you need to have that experience and profile behind you first.
Am I Ready to Get an Overseas Agent?
Before you start to approach agents and ask them to consider representing you on the international stage, there are a few questions you should ask yourself.
What momentum do I currently have as an actor?
If you are coming off a big win, like wrapping on a film or another great recent credit, now is a great time to approach! Agents like to see actors who are already in a place where the ‘rubber meets the road’. It’s hard to get a new client from no credits to their first credit, so many feel more comfortable taking on new clients that are already rolling.
This doesn’t mean it’s impossible for undiscovered talent to get signed, but especially international agents are more likely to take a chance if you’ve got some recents successes to back it up.
Do I know the market I’m looking to enter?
Where are you looking t getting an agent, and do you know what’s filming in that market? Do you have any sort of base or connection to the place your future agent is based?
The biggest filming market in Europe is definitely the UK. It’s the largest in terms of box office gross and a major hub for both its own productions and international services, with London being the top film production city in Europe. That’d be where you’d find the most opportunity – but of course you need to take into account things like work rights, cost of living, and connections to industry!
How’s my accent?
Accent can definitely be a factor. Most American productions will expect a very strong, believable US accent. For many European actors, that’s a big hurdle, even for those who speak English fluently. If you have a flawless American accent, that’s a huge advantage. But if your natural European accent is strong and unique, it can also work in your favour, particularly for roles that require international or “non-American” characters.
Am I at the level of getting an overseas agent yet?
High profile actors usually have multiple international agents. For instance an established UK actor is likely to also have US rep. But this is only done by very successful or working actors. If you haven’t already got lots of experience and serious credits in your own industry, it may be worth waiting before you approach.
Do I really need an overseas agent?
You don’t really have to be in LA anymore to book US work. In the UK or Australia often productions that are US based will also cast in other locations that they’re filming, so you could be working on a Hollywood movie at home! Getting representation in LA is awesome and it’s a good goal, even if you’re not based there personally, but it’s worth asking if and when you want to do that.
Do I understand how agents work in different countries?
If you were an Aussie international mega-star, like say Margot Robbie, you might have an Australian, UK, and US agent. But that’s certainly not the norm. International agencies like CAA, WME, or UTA are powerhouses that have teams across the pond, and coordinate on your behalf. However, these agencies are incredibly difficult to get signed by and most actors will never work with them or will only work with them after solidifying their career.
In general, people have one agent per major location, which is usually countrywide. In very big industries like the US it is conceivable that you would have a NY and an LA agent, but even then usually you would just have one and be based in one.
Now that you’ve had a real think about whether you’re ready and interested in overseas representation, let’s look at one possible pathway. Remember that there isn’t just one way to secure international representation.There’s no set path. Some actors who’ve moved to straight over to America just get an American agent with no trouble, others struggle for years.
Keep your mind open and explore all the possible pathways!
Case Study: Australian Actor Looking to Get an American Agent
For example, let’s say you’re an Australian actor looking at signing with a US agent. How do you go about that? Let’s use our method of starting local and going global. Firstly, it’s easier if you’re Australian to get an Australian agent build up momentum here. Because you understand the culture you’re going to have natural connections. You’re also going to have the natural accent and all those other benefits of just being part of this community. Whereas, you potentially don’t have that in America. Which makes it much more difficult to crack into the American industry.
- If you’re not represented in Australia, the first step is thinking local.
Whichever city you’re in, focus there. Find a good agent who is willing to take you on in Australia, and work on building your profile. - When you sign with pretty much any mid-size to top tier Australian agent, you’re going to be auditioning. Once you sign, you’d hopefully be getting big Australian auditions, some American auditions, and you book a few roles.
- After you’ve built up your credits and your profile, you can leverage that hype and excitement to hopefully sign with an American agent.
Basically every agent in Australia to some extent has connections that they work with in America, but those connections are obviously better with certain agents.
It might take you a few years to do this, but it’s time well spent. Once your profile is built up, you can talk to your agent about any US connections they might have and start reaching out to agents!
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, it’s just about finding your own goals. But generally speaking, focusing local first is the way to go. The industry you’re in already is going to be easier to get a foothold in and to build from there. Trust the natural system. It’s great to have big, international ambitions as an actor, but equally important to enjoy the journey without getting too swept up in the end goal!
