Acting Contracts: Here's What You Need to Know

An acting contract is a legally binding agreement between an actor and an employer or engager (such as a production company, theatre, producer, or agent). It outlines the rights, responsibilities, and obligations of both parties, including working hours, dates, fee, and place of employment, as well as the terms of the service being provided. These contracts ensure clarity and fairness, reducing misunderstandings or disputes.

Here are the main types of acting contracts:

• Commercial contracts: Used for advertisements, these agreements often include specific terms around usage rights, such as where the advert will run (including which countries it will be distributed in and in which formats) and for how long (for example six months or 12 months).
• Film and television contracts: These contracts typically specify the project’s scope, rehearsal and shooting schedules, and any provisions for reshoots. They often include clauses about residuals (ongoing payments made to actors when a TV show or film is reused, sold, or broadcast beyond its original scope).
• Theatre contracts: This type of agreement should cover rehearsal and performance schedules, touring details, and the rate of pay. For Equity members, these should align with the union’s terms around fair pay and working conditions.
• Audio drama contracts: These contracts cover work in radio plays, podcasts, or other audio-only productions. They outline the hours of work, the payment terms, usage rights, and whether the work will be repurposed or distributed internationally.
• Acting agent contracts: These agreements are slightly different from standard acting contracts. They define your relationship with an agent, including the commission you’ll pay them (usually 10%–20%), exclusivity terms, and stipulations on termination of the contract. Equity has detailed advice on what to check for when signing with an agent.

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There will likely be many instances in your acting career where you’ll work on a non-Equity contract. Before signing any actor agreement, read it over carefully. An acting contract should include these terms: 

1. Duties: Your contract should state exactly what work you will be expected to do. If there are additional duties following the project’s release (for example, press junkets or promotional tours), these should also be included. 
2. Rate of pay: Your contract should clearly set out how much you will be paid for the work. This could be a weekly salary or a daily or hourly rate. If it is one “all-in” fee, then you should be able to work out what your basic weekly/daily pay is based on the hours of work. Both Equity and the Independent Theatre Council offer information on appropriate rates of pay.
3. Hours of work: A decent acting contract will explicitly state how many hours you will work per day, or per week, for the specified rate of pay. It should also specify when your working day begins and ends, and any relevant breaks. At the point of engagement, you should be given a schedule of rehearsals and performances or shoot dates. Whilst schedules are subject to change, you should have a clear and thorough overview, in advance, of when you are expected to be working.
4. Overtime: How will you be compensated if you are made to work through a break, or over the hours in your contract? The rate of pay for overtime should be set out clearly and explicitly. 
5. Subsistence/per diem: If you are touring, or have to relocate for a production (either for stage or film), your contract should cover what allowances you will receive for accommodation, travel, and meals.
6. Holiday pay: “On the vast majority of shows, actors would be considered ‘workers’ and therefore are legally entitled to holiday pay,” explained Laura Elmes, the founder/producer at Wildpark Entertainment. And according to Amy Dawson at Equity, you’ll qualify for holiday payments even if you are engaged for only a day. So, if paid holiday doesn't appear on a contract, and you are defined under law as a “worker,” then ask for it to be included – it’s your legal right. Equity’s guide to holiday pay offers comprehensive advice on determining whether you have “worker status” and calculating holiday pay, depending on the length of your contract.
7. Pensions: Elmes tells Backstage that, as with holiday pay, it’s a “legal requirement” for workers to receive pension contributions if they’re eligible. Find out what is being offered, and whether you can use the Equity pension scheme. 
8. Sick leave: Ideally an actor’s contract should include what would happen if you became ill or were injured. Would you still be paid? If so, how much and for how long?
9. Health and safety: Steps to ensure your health and safety may not be explicitly specified in the contract, but you should ask questions about health and safety on the job. For example, have the appropriate risk assessments been carried out? Are there security procedures in place to protect performers in an immersive production? Are there enough changing rooms, and is hot and cold water available?
10. Dignity at work: Find out what steps you should follow if you need to raise a concern with your employer/engager, as well as the process if they need to raise an issue with your work. Is there a Dignity at Work policy in place that guards against bullying and harassment? Ask to see all policies that will apply to you.
11. Filming of live performances: If your contract covers live theatre work, ask whether any of your performances will be filmed, and, if so, where and how will the material be distributed? If the performance is going to be broadcast in cinemas as part of a scheme like National Theatre Live, for example, you should be entitled to additional compensation. Make sure that whatever is agreed upon is also in your contract.
12. Back-end payments: These refer to compensation an actor receives for a film after production is completed (when it begins generating revenue), as well as TV shows being rebroadcast or made available on new platforms. Ensure the contract offers some form of residual payment (for example, royalties or a profit share) based on the production’s financial success. Equity discourages actors from accepting “buyouts,” or one-time payments, that grant perpetual rights without additional compensation, and instead encourages actors to negotiate fair terms for back-end payments that compensate you for the ongoing success of your work. The exact amount will vary “based on how long you worked on a production and how much you earned,” said Dawson. Commercials work differently, and buyouts are common, but these should stipulate a fixed term of usage rather than covering use of the advert in perpetuity.

There will be instances where a contract may not include all of the above but you still want to do the project. Elmes recommended “reading any agreement thoroughly, and checking you’re happy with everything included before signing – it’s better to check everything first so you know what you’re signing up for and to avoid conflict down the line.” Ultimately, it’s your call to decide the terms you are willing to work under, but don’t forget that your work has real value. Equity offers contract support for producers with micro budgets, so even if the production cannot pay full rates, they should provide actor agreements that adhere to ethical employment standards.

Keep an eye out for these red flags when reviewing a contract:

• Ambiguity: Vague terms about pay, working hours, or your duties on the job can lead to misunderstandings.
• Exclusive rights: Be cautious if the contract limits your ability to take on other conflicting work in perpetuity.
• Lack of alignment with Equity: Ensure contracts align with Equity’s recommended agreements to guarantee fair treatment and ethical employment practices.
• Termination clauses: Check that the contract includes fair terms for ending the agreement. 
• Unfair buyouts: Avoid signing agreements that buy out your rights in perpetuity, regardless of the production’s subsequent financial success.

Here are two examples of what an appropriate actor contract should include – one for television, the other for stage. 

• This BBC/Equity television agreement outlines the minimum terms and conditions for all artists engaged by the BBC.
• This sample contract under the Equity Fringe Agreement (2023) offers fringe theatre guidelines on terms related to pay and working conditions.

Equity offers free advice to members and can review contracts to ensure they align with industry standards; however, it is not able to offer legal advice. It’s worth consulting a solicitor experienced in entertainment law if:

• The contract contains complex or unfamiliar clauses.
• You’re asked to sign away rights without clear compensation.
• You’re unsure about exclusivity, buyouts, or royalty arrangements.

Contracts are there to protect you, so make sure they seem fair before signing: Always read the fine print, don’t hesitate to ask questions, and don’t be afraid to seek external advice.