Top Talent Agencies in Seattle for Acting, Modeling, or VO

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Photo Source: Andy Dean Photography/Shutterstock

Although it doesn’t immediately spring to mind as an entertainment hub like New York or L.A., the Pacific Northwest is a solid place to start or continue your acting career. In fact, a smaller market such as Seattle brings its own advantages. Washington’s largest city has an intimate but mighty talent network for both local and national-scale projects. Plus, its proximity to Vancouver, aka the Hollywood of Canada, makes it a great spot to seek representation and build your résumé

The best talent agencies in Seattle all boast a solid client and talent roster, are SAG-AFTRA franchised, and have been in business for at least 25 years.

Seattle talent agencies

Big Fish

Big Fish has provided the Pacific Northwest with premier talent for more than 25 years. The agency represents experienced actors, including principal and background talent, and voiceover talent of all ages.

Since Big Fish is best suited for actors with more experience, the agency strongly recommends applying for background work first if your résumé is light. You must also be willing to travel to different cities in the region, such as Portland or Spokane, for work. 

For children specifically, the agency notes that jobs for actors under seven are few and far between; additionally, the area does not see a lot of calls for national retail or child-directed advertising work. Given its location and focus, its client roster includes tech giants such as Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, and Meta. 

You can apply to be represented by Big Fish directly on its site. There are separate online forms for each type of talent: principal actors, VO work, kids, and background talent

TCM Models & Talent

TCM was founded nearly 45 years ago and has remained one of the top agencies in Seattle. Founded by former model Terri Morgan, the agency prides itself on giving early-career actors and models the support they need to book work and continue mastering their craft. According to the agency, its boutique approach “lends itself to a more personalized atmosphere when developing new models and talent.” 

TCM represents both adult and teen on-camera actors and voiceover talent; it also represents models in the runway, fitness, commercial, print, and curve niches. Notable regular clients include Nordstrom, Starbucks, REI, and Nike. 

The agency does not hold open calls, so the only way to submit your materials is directly through the form on its website or by emailing directly. If submitting by email, make sure you read through its guidelines carefully—particularly the model requirements

Dramatic Artists Agency

Dramatic Artists Agency was founded in Seattle in 1992, but it has since opened a Hollywood office. The agency now serves one of the most comprehensive arrays of talent in both Washington and California and has built a roster of national advertising clients such as Nintendo, Target, and Mattel. Dramatic Artists Agency talent has also been booked for film and TV projects on HBO, ABC/Disney, Lifetime, and Nickelodeon. 

Dramatic Artists has successfully connected trailblazing talent to high-profile projects throughout the years. For example, the agency connected Aubrey Anderson-Emmons to her role as Lily Tucker-Pritchett on “Modern Family.” Anderson-Emmons went on to become the youngest person to receive a SAG Award. The agency also helped book Q’orianka Kilcher in a lead role as Pochahontas in Terrence Mallick’s “The New World.”

Dramatic Artists accepts submissions on its website for film, TV, commercial, or voiceover talent of any age. 

Topo Swope Talent 

Topo Swope Talent (TST) was founded by actress Topo Swope in 1994. Swope retired at the end of 2022, and the agency is now headed by Tim Crist, an experienced stage manager and talent agent with 14 years of experience. 

TST talent has booked commercials for clients including Boeing, Seattle Athletic Club, and Horizon Bank. Its film and TV talent can be seen on networks such as ABC, NBC, and TNT. 

TST is only taking submissions from experienced talent that can do both on-camera and voiceover work at the time of publication. The agency does not represent children under 13 years of age. To be represented, you must be based in Washington state but be willing to travel to the rest of the Pacific Northwest for work. The agency only accepts submissions by email—no walk-ins, open calls, or snail mail submissions. TST will contact you directly about scheduling a virtual audition if interested in representing you. 

Colleen Bell Agency

Colleen Bell Agency is a full-service Seattle acting agency that submits talent for “commercials, industrial videos, voice-overs, high fashion modeling, commercial print, live shows and much more.” The Bell Agency represents union and nonunion talent in both Oregon and Washington for local and national clients throughout the PNW. Some notable commercial clients include Ford, Macy’s, and the Seattle Seahawks. The agency’s TV roster has been seen on shows such as “Portlandia,” “Leverage,” and “Chasing Fireflies.”

The agency finds new “talent and models, ages eight and older” through its open calls, held each month at its Bellevue and Lake Oswego offices. You must send headshots, a résumé, and personal statement prior to attending. 

The Actors Group 

The Actors Group has been representing film, TV, industrials, broadcasting, and live hosting talent for over 30 years. In 2021, it created an influencer division to represent influencers across the U.S. The Actors Group has a separate sister agency, In Both Ears, representing voiceover talent. According to the agency website, it is the only Seattle agency whose alumni have been nominated for Oscars and won Emmys and Golden Globes. 

The Actors Group is very selective about who it works with, so this agency is best suited for experienced talent. Each talent division has a separate team and email address to submit materials to. You can find each division’s contact information on the contact page of the agency site. Voiceover talent can submit via email by following the instructions on In Both Ears.