Casting Directors honoured at the third CDG Casting Awards
The UK’s top Casting Directors were honoured tonight, Tuesday 16 February 2021, at the third annual CDG Casting Awards presented by the Casting Directors’ Guild (CDG) in partnership with Spotlight. The Awards took place during an online ceremony, presented by actress Camille Cottin, to recognise and celebrate the artistry of casting across Film, TV, Theatre and Commercials.
The winners of the 3rd CDG Casting Awards are:
- Leanne Flinn for Best Casting in a Commercial for Sport England This Girl Can – Me Again
- Jessica Ronane for Best Casting in a Regional Theatre production for A Monster Calls (The Old Vic on tour). Casting Associate: Abby Galvin
- Stuart Burt for Best Casting in Theatre (inside M25) for Cyrano de Bergerac (Playhouse Theatre)
- Jessica Ronane for Best Casting in Musical Theatre for Girl from the North Country (Gielgud Theatre). Casting Associate: Abby Galvin
- Louise Kiely and Karen Scully for Best Casting in a TV Drama Series for Normal People
- Lauren Evans for Best Casting in a TV Comedy Series for Sex Education Series 2
- Isabella Odoffin for Best Casting in an Independent Film for Blue Story
- Sarah Crowe for Best Casting in a Film for The Personal History of David Copperfield. Casting Associate: Xanthe Spencer-Davidson
Victor Jenkins, Chair of the Casting Director’s Guild commented: “It’s so exciting to be able to announce the winners for our 3rd CDG Casting Awards. Like all walks of life, the entertainment industry is forging on under the most extraordinary circumstances. The nominations here reflect the wonderful work done pre and during the pandemic, and the theatre categories in particular are a salient reminder of the power and wonder of stage. Congratulations to the winners, and all our nominees.”
Actress Camille Cottin presented these awards during an online ceremony. She said: “I have been so touched by the enthusiasm of the British casting community for Call My Agent and the way they have really made me feel welcome in the British industry. It was a pleasure to be able to host the awards and toast the special work they do.”
Richard Wilson, CEO of Spotlight added: “We have always believed that the work of casting directors should be celebrated by our industry, which is why Spotlight is so proud to continue partnering with the CDG for their annual Awards. Huge congratulations to all the winners, nominees, and members of the CDG, who have continued to deliver such incredible work through one of the toughest years in memory for our industry.”
The full list of nominees and winners is as follows:
Best Casting in a Commercial
WINNER: Leanne Flinn for Sport England This Girl Can – Me Again
- Sasha Robertson for Amazon Alexa (Before Alexa)
- Emma Stafford for Barnardos Believe in Me – Anxiety
- Kharmel Cochrane and Martin Gibbons for Department of Education Every Lesson Shapes a Life 2
- Emma Stafford for NHS We Are the Specialists
- Sasha Robertson for Ovarian Cancer Action
Leanne Flinn commented: “I am so delighted to have won a CDG award for best casting for the This Girl Can campaign. Even being nominated against other incredible casting directors is such an honour. Casting has only recently started to be recognised in the industry so when you win an award like this one it means so much. This Girl Can is a really rewarding campaign to have worked on. I was trusted to find inspiring and empowering women for the campaign that has encouraged nearly 3 million women to get more active since it began in 2015. I’ve worked on nearly all the campaigns since the start so thrilled to have won the CDG for commercial casting.”
Best Casting in Regional Theatre (Outside of M25 includes straight Plays and Musicals)
WINNER: Jessica Ronane for A Monster Calls (The Old Vic, on tour). Casting Associate: Abby Galvin
- Matthew Dewsbury for King John/A Museum in Baghdad/The Whip (Royal Shakespeare Company)
- Charlotte Sutton for Sing Yer Heart Out for the Lads (Chichester Festival Theatre, Spiegeltent)
- Hannah Miller for The Boy in the Dress (Royal Shakespeare Company).Children’s Casting Directors: Hannah Miller and Barbara Roberts
- Nadine Rennie for The Last King of Scotland (Sheffield Theatres)
Jessica Ronane commented: “These shows have been career highs for me. Having been fortunate enough to work in-house at The Old Vic for the last six years I know that these productions are only made possible because of creative collaborations allowing for long developmental periods. Girl From The North Country cut to the core of human emotion. The beauty of the music combined with Conor McPherson’s story and characters transported us as only theatre can. Sally Cookson’s A Monster Calls retold Patrick Ness’s hit novel in a new and purely theatrical manner. Witnessing Sally’s imagination soar from auditions through to opening night was an enormous privilege and one I’ll never forget. I lived steps away from The Old Vic when I moved to London over 20 years ago from ballet school. I trained backstage and worked front of house. It is a precious and treasured ‘crown jewel’, loved by so many who now eagerly await the doors opening again.”
Best Casting in Theatre (inside M25) – sponsored by Hamilton Hodell
WINNER: Stuart Burt for Cyrano de Bergerac (Playhouse Theatre)
- Jessica Ronane for A Very Expensive Poison (The Old Vic). Casting Associate: Christopher Worrall
- Charlotte Sutton for Fairview (Young Vic)
- Anna Cooper for Teenage Dick (Donmar Warehouse)
- Isabella Odoffin for Three Sisters (National Theatre)
Stuart Burt commented: “It’s thrilling for casting to be recognised and rewarded for the crucial and truly creative part it plays in the building of any production. Cyrano was a special project in many ways and I was honoured to play a part in its creation, be lucky enough to watch it as an audience member…so this really is the cherry on top!”
Best Casting in Musical Theatre (inside M25)
WINNER: Jessica Ronane for Girl from the North Country (Gielgud Theatre). Casting Associate: Abby Galvin
- Stuart Burt for & Juliet (Shaftesbury Theatre)
- Jill Green for Dear Evan Hansen (Noel Coward Theatre). Casting Associate: Amy Beadel, Casting Assistants: Heidi Lawry and Nicholas Hockaday
- Paul Wooller and Felicity French for Mary Poppins (Prince Edward Theatre)
- Jim Arnold for The Prince of Egypt (Dominion Theatre). Children’s Casting Director: Verity Naughton
See quote from Jessica Ronane above (Winner of Best Casting in a Regional Theatre Award).
Best Casting in a TV Drama Series – sponsored by Independent Talent Group
WINNER: Louise Kiely and Karen Scully for Normal People (Hulu)
- Shaheen Baig for Giri/Haji (BBC Two)
- Kahleen Crawford and Dan Jackson for His Dark Materials (BBC One)
- Kahleen Crawford for I Hate Suzie (Sky Atlantic)
- Julie Harkin for I May Destroy You (BBC One). Casting Associate: Nathan Toth
Louise Kiely and Karen Scully commented: “We are so honoured to win this CDG award. To be recognised by our colleagues who we admire so greatly is just the highest accolade. When we work on a project like NORMAL PEOPLE, we eat, sleep and drink the characters. We enjoy nothing more than imagining who is best to bring those treasured characters to life. When casting is complete, the mechanics of our work becomes beautifully invisible and we adore watching the actors work their magic on screen. We are thrilled and so very grateful.”
Best Casting in a TV Comedy Series – sponsored by United Agents
WINNER: Lauren Evans for Sex Education Series 2 (Netflix)
- Tracey Gillham for Inside No 9 Series 5 (BBC Two)
- Sarah Crowe for Motherland Series 2 (BBC Two)
- Theo Park for Ted Lasso (Apple TV). Casting Associate: Olissa Rogers
- Rachel Freck for Trying (Apple TV). Casting Associate: Cat Dickie, Child Casting Associate: Annelie Powell, Casting Assistant: Amy Jackson
Lauren Evans commented: “I’m so proud to be involved in a production which champions inclusivity and upcoming talent. Particularly a show which so many take so much from. Casting plays such a major part in telling stories truthfully and authentically and I’m thrilled our place in the industry is finally getting recognised.”
Best Casting in an Independent Film (under £3 million) – includes straight to TV – sponsored by Independent Talent Group
WINNER: Isabella Odoffin for Blue Story
- Shaheen Baig for Calm with Horses
- Louise Kiely for Dating Amber
- Kharmel Cochrane for Saint Maud
- Dixie Chassay for Sulphur and White
Isabella Odoffin commented: “Being part of something that had garnered so much buzz was and will always be an honour. I met so many talented people who I might never have had the pleasure of crossing paths with on any other project. To not only see the intricacy of the craft becoming increasingly recognised, to also be able to celebrate with an award is such a warm feeling and very much testament to the magic that can happen when all creatives are operating on the same passion-fuelled vibrancy.”
Best Casting in a Film (over £3 million) – includes straight to TV – sponsored by Eon Productions Limited
WINNER: Sarah Crowe for The Personal History of David Copperfield. Casting Associate: Xanthe Spencer-Davidson
- Jessica Ronane for Emma. Casting Associate: Christopher Worrall
- Des Hamilton for Jojo Rabbit
- Fiona Weir and Alice Searby for Judy. Casting Assistant: Sarah Wilson
- Kharmel Cochrane for The Lighthouse
Sarah Crowe commented: “I’m so honoured to be receiving this award for The Personal History of David Copperfield, it was quite literally my dream job. A favourite novel adapted with such style and wit by Armando Iannucci and with a brief that has quite possibly helped redefine the status quo in British film in terms of colour inclusive casting.
The CDG have worked tirelessly to bring about change in our industry with the recognition of our work. I believe these awards not only shine a spotlight on what we do but will hopefully inspire a new generation to choose casting as a career.”
The CDG Casting Awards are presented in partnership with Spotlight. The Awards are sponsored by Eon Productions, Hamilton Hodell, Independent Talent Group and United Agents.