This week I spoke to the casting director Lara Manwaring who has been in the industry for the past decade, predominately working at Des Hamilton casting - they’ve done films like Four Lions, Tyrannosaur, This Is England, Wuthering Heights and Adult Life Skills. Lots of of really incredible British cinema. Lara now has her own company, through which she has cast projects such as Mandy starring Nicolas Cage and Andrea Riseborough, Aneil Karia’s Surge starring Ben Whishaw and a film called Lynn + Lucy, directed by Fyzal Boulifa which is released today! It was called a fiercely impressive feature debut by The Guardian and is now available to watch on digital platforms including BFI Player.
Lara and I talk about making that leap from working for a company to being her own boss, what she looks for in auditions, why the recognition toward casting directors has come at a glacial pace and the responsibility feels towards ensuring greater representations for people of colour on our screens.
It’s a great chat, I always find casting so fascinating to consider and I hope you get something from it also. This is episode 57 of Best Girl Grip.
Episode 021: Amy Smart
Episode 020: Alexzandra Jackson
Episode 019: Rachel Clark
Episode 018: Jen Moss
Episode 017: Ruka Johnson
Episode 016: Catherine Slater
Episode 015: Chloe Trayner
Episode 014: Harry Wootliff
Episode 013: Síle Culley
Episode 012: Jo Duncombe
Episode 011: Jude Lister
Episode 010: Loran Dunn
Episode 009: Jordan McGarry
Episode 008: Beccy Ashdown
Episode 007: Emma Duffy
Episode 006: Caragh Davison
Episode 005: Delphine Lievens
Episode 004: Maya Maffioli
Episode 003: Helen Simmons
Episode 002: Grace Barber-Plentie
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