Choosing the Right Actors: Insights from Casting Directors
One would be hard-pressed to find a casting director who doesn’t revel in the joy of discovering brand-new talent. “It’s one of the most exciting parts of the job,” says Robert Sterne, casting director on The Crown, the series that over the course of six seasons has embraced both British national treasures like Imelda Staunton, Olivia Colman and Helena Bonham Carter, and turned lesser-known actors like
Emma Corrin and Josh O’Connor into bona fide stars. “With something like The Crown, when you see somebody being given an amazing creative opportunity to really explore and develop their craft in a supportive environment that will then take them to the next stage, it is incredibly satisfying.”
On The Morning Show, with Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon as headliners, Victoria Thomas’ challenge is to populate their world with actors who can shine with the same wattage. “There’s totally a caliber that we’re going for,” says the casting director. “It’s a very high-profile show, and we want more eyeballs on it, so there’s a certain level of actors we’re looking for, and we just hope that they are able to do it with our scheduling.” While the availability of Jon Hamm or Julianna Margulies isn’t a given, Thomas hasn’t found many roadblocks to landing the who’s who of Hollywood with this gig. The trick, she says, is balance. “We have to be careful that we don’t over-cast. In some cases, you just need a really solid supporting actor to play a part. They may not be as well known as Jon, Jen or Reese, but it is the balance of the known names and the great character actors that grounds the show in a certain reality. The two things mesh and create watchability.”