It would be hard to find a casting director who doesn't revel in the joy of discovering new talent. “It's one of the most exciting parts of the job,” says Robert Sterne, casting director of The crownthe series which over the course of six seasons embraced both British national treasures such as Imelda Staunton, Olivia Colman and Helena Bonham Carter, and transformed lesser-known actors such as
Emma Corrin and Josh O'Connor as true stars. “With something like The Crown, when you see someone given an incredible creative opportunity to really explore and develop their craft in a supportive environment that will then take them to the next stage, it's incredibly rewarding.”
On The Morning Show , which stars Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, Victoria Thomas’s challenge is to populate their world with actors who can shine with equal power. “There’s a caliber that we’re looking for,” says the casting director. “It’s a high-profile show and we want to get more eyes on it, so we’re looking for a certain level of actors and we just hope that they can do that with our schedule.” While Jon Hamm or Julianna Margulies aren’t a given, Thomas hasn’t faced many obstacles in landing Hollywood royalty on the gig. The trick, she says, is balance. “We have to be careful not to overcast. In some cases, you just need a really solid supporting actor to play a part. They might not be as big as Jon, Jen or Reese, but it’s the balance between the household names and the great character actors that really roots the show in a certain reality. The two things blend together and create interest in the viewing.”