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Michael most recently appeared in Netflix\u2019s\u00a0Top Boy<\/em>, where he played the memorable role of Cyprus opposite Kano. He can also be seen in great guest roles in BBC One\u2019s\u00a0You Don’t Know Me\u00a0<\/em>and ITV\u2019s\u00a0Vera<\/em>. Before that, he starred in a successful tour of\u00a0Blue\/Orange\u00a0<\/em>in a new adaptation of the brilliant play, opposite Giles Terera.<\/p>\nDuring lockdown, Michael led the one-man show\u00a0Death of England: Delroy\u00a0<\/em>at the National Theatre, directed by Clint Dyer, to rave reviews. Unfortunately, the show was cancelled after its opening night due to the national lockdown returning. However, Michael\u2019s very short run gained attention due to his ferocious performance and was hailed by many as \u2018a star turn\u2019, garnering him a nomination for Best Male Actor in a play at The Black British Theatre Awards. Prior to this, Michael filmed a guest role in Epix\u2019s\u00a0War of the Worlds<\/em>.<\/p>\nHis other theatre credits include\u00a0Macbeth\u00a0<\/em>at Chichester Festival Theatre, the UK tour of\u00a0Barbershop Chronicles<\/em>, directed by Rufus Norris at the National, and the UK tour of\u00a0People, Places and Things<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Aisha Bywaters (CDG)<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n
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Aisha won the BAFTA TV Craft Award for Scripted Casting in 2022 with\u00a0We Are Lady Parts\u00a0<\/em>for Working Title\/NBCU. Her other TV credits include\u00a0The Baby\u00a0<\/em>for Sister Pictures and HBO\/Sky, Netflix\u2019s\u00a0Man vs Bee\u00a0<\/em>and Working Title\u2019s adaptation of Dolly Alderton\u2019s\u00a0Everything I Know About Love\u00a0<\/em>for the BBC. Aisha\u2019s film credits include the critically acclaimed\u00a0The Last Tree\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0County Lines<\/em>. Her upcoming projects\u00a0include the Netflix\/Film4 feature\u00a0The Kitchen<\/em>, co-written and produced by Daniel Kaluuya.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Anna Cooper (CDG)<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n
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Anna has been the casting director at the Donmar Warehouse since 2019, where productions have included:\u00a0Constellations\u00a0<\/em>(Olivier Award: Best Revival),\u00a0A Doll\u2019s House, Part 2, Henry V, Marys Seacole, Force Majeure, Europe, [BLANK], Teenage Dick, Far Away<\/em>, and\u00a0Love & Other Acts of Violence<\/em>. Previous theatre credits include:\u00a0I And You, Dry Powder,\u00a0<\/em>Gloria<\/em>\u00a0(Hampstead Theatre),\u00a0Steel, Love & Information\u00a0<\/em>(Sheffield Theatres),\u00a0Leave Taking, HIR\u00a0<\/em>(Bush Theatre),\u00a0Circle, Mirror, Transformation, The Maids\u00a0<\/em>(HOME),\u00a0They Drink It In the Congo\u00a0<\/em>(Almeida),\u00a0Multitudes<\/em>, (Tricycle),\u00a0A Number\u00a0<\/em>(Nuffield\/Young Vic) and\u00a0Tonight at 8.30\u00a0<\/em>(Nuffield).<\/p>\nAs casting associate, theatre credits include\u00a0Allelujah!, Nightfall, Julius Caesar, Young Marx\u00a0<\/em>(Bridge Theatre) and film\/tv credits include\u00a0Dunkirk, Mission Impossible 6, The Dark Knight Rises, Belle, Manhunt, Capital, Silk, Doc Martin\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0Ashes to Ashes<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Daniel Edwards (CDG)<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n
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Daniel has worked in the industry for over 40 years, first as a child, then as an adult actor, before moving into casting 15 years ago, working predominantly in television drama and independent film.<\/p>\n
Daniel\u2019s most recent projects include\u00a0Grace\u00a0<\/em>(ITV),\u00a0DI Ray<\/em>\u00a0(ITV),\u00a0Showtrial\u00a0<\/em>(BBC),\u00a0Then Barbara Met Alan\u00a0<\/em>(BBC),\u00a04Stories\u00a0<\/em>(Channel 4) and\u00a0Heartstopper\u00a0<\/em>(Netflix).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Sophie Holland (CSA)<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n
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Sophie Holland is the casting director for the epic TV franchise,\u00a0The Witcher<\/em>, Netflix\u2019s first international original series. Additional upcoming projects include\u00a0Constellations\u00a0<\/em>(Apple+),\u00a0The Peripheral\u00a0<\/em>(Amazon),\u00a0The Continental\u00a0<\/em>(John Wick\u00a0<\/em>Prequel for STARZ\/Lionsgate), Season 4 of Netflix\u2019s acclaimed series of\u00a0You<\/em>, and Tim\u00a0Burton\u2019s\u00a0Wednesday<\/em>\u00a0(Netflix).<\/p>\n\n
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For film, UK casting for\u00a0Cherry\u00a0<\/em>(AGBO Films\/AppleTV) starring Tom Holland, A24\u2019s\u00a0The Kill Team\u00a0<\/em>with Alexander Skarsga\u030ard, and a modern retelling of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart\u2019s popular opera\u00a0The Magic Flute<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Jessica Hynes<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n
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Jessica Hynes has worked extensively in television, film and theatre as both a writer and performer.\u00a0Her television credits include:\u00a0Inside No. 9<\/em>\u00a0(BBC),\u00a0Life After Life\u00a0<\/em>(BBC),\u00a0Mood\u00a0<\/em>(BBC),\u00a0The Witchfinder\u00a0<\/em>(BBC),\u00a0Roald and Beatrix\u00a0<\/em>(Sky One),\u00a0Years and Years\u00a0<\/em>(BBC), for which she won a Northern RTS Award,\u00a0There She Goes<\/em>\u00a0(BBC), where she won the RTS Awards for Female Best Performance and a BAFTA for Female Performance in a Comedy Programme,\u00a0The Royle Family<\/em>\u00a0(BBC),\u00a0Spaced\u00a0<\/em>(Channel 4), for which she won two comedy awards,\u00a0Doctor Who\u00a0<\/em>(BBC),\u00a0Cider with Rosie\u00a0<\/em>(BBC),\u00a0Hooten and the Lady\u00a0<\/em>(Sky),\u00a0Skins\u00a0<\/em>(Channel 4),\u00a0The Hour\u00a0<\/em>(BBC),\u00a0Moone Boy\u00a0<\/em>(Channel 4),\u00a0Blandings\u00a0<\/em>(BBC),\u00a0One Night\u00a0<\/em>(BBC),\u00a0Twenty Twelve\u00a0<\/em>and its brilliant spin-off\u00a0W1A<\/em>,<\/em>\u00a0for which Jessica won a BAFTA. Jessica also wrote and starred in\u00a0Up The Women\u00a0<\/em>(BBC) for two series.<\/p>\nHer film credits include\u00a0Shaun of the Dead, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, Son of Rambow, Harry Potter, Pudsey the Dog, Paddington, Swallows & Amazons, Bridget Jones\u2019s Baby<\/em>, and\u00a0Paddington 2<\/em>. Her directorial debut,\u00a0The Fight<\/em>, which she also starred in, was nominated for a BIFA award and won a Welsh BAFTA for Cinematography.<\/p>\nHer theatre credits include\u00a0Far Away\u00a0<\/em>(Donmar Warehouse),\u00a0The Norman Conquests\u00a0<\/em>(Old Vic), for which she was nominated for a Tony Award for the Broadway transfer, and\u00a0The Night Heron\u00a0<\/em>(Royal Court), for which she was nominated for an Olivier Award.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Hannah Miller (CDG)<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n
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Hannah has been head of casting at the Royal Shakespeare Company since 2008. Having studied drama at the University of Hull in the mid-90s, presenting shows in Edinburgh and the National Student Drama Festival, she went to work at Cheek by Jowl, followed by the National Theatre as a casting assistant. She then moved to the RSC as deputy casting director and was a casting director for the Birmingham Rep before returning to the RSC. Hannah works regularly in drama schools and industry organisations, advising actors on professional development, resilience and demystifying the casting process. She is a trustee of Northampton Theatres Trust and Tamasha.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Talulah Riley<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n
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Actress, author, and director Talulah Riley is best known for her roles as Angela in HBO’s Science Fiction series\u00a0Westworld\u00a0<\/em>(2016-2019), Mary Bennett in\u00a0Pride & Prejudice\u00a0<\/em>(2005), and for her starring role in\u00a0St Trinian’s\u00a0<\/em>(2007) and its sequel\u00a0St Trinian’s: The Legend of Fritton’s Gold\u00a0<\/em>(2009).<\/p>\nThus far, 2022 has been a landmark year for Talulah, who was recently seen in Danny Boyle’s eagerly anticipated TV miniseries\u00a0Pistol\u00a0<\/em>(for FX and Disney+) playing the role of iconic designer Vivienne Westwood.<\/p>\nIn addition to her role in\u00a0Pisto<\/em>l, Talulah’s second novel\u00a0The Quickening<\/em>\u00a0was published by Hodder & Stoughton on 23rd June 2022. Set in a near-future Britain that is ruled exclusively by women,\u00a0The Quickening\u00a0<\/em>is a thrilling dystopian tale of gender, power and betrayal. Riley’s debut novel\u00a0Acts Of Love\u00a0<\/em>was published by Hodder & Stoughton in 2016.<\/p>\nRiley’s other film credits also include\u00a0Inception<\/em>\u00a0(2010) alongside Tom Hardy,\u00a0Love & Distrust<\/em>\u00a0(2010) alongside Robert Pattinson and, in 2015 she made her directorial debut with\u00a0Scottish Mussel<\/em>, which she also wrote and starred in. Other television credits include\u00a0Poirot<\/em>\u00a0(2003),\u00a0Marple<\/em>\u00a0(2006),\u00a0Doctor Who<\/em>\u00a0(2008) and\u00a0Nearly Famous<\/em>\u00a0(2007). Riley made her stage debut in\u00a0The Philadelphia Story<\/em>\u00a0at the Old Vic in 2005 and also performed in a 2006 revival of Tennessee Williams’\u00a0Summer And Smoke<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Susan Wokoma<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n
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Susan is an actor, writer and soon-to-be first-time director. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), Susan has gone on to appear in films such as\u00a0Enola Holmes<\/em>, the upcoming\u00a0Enola Holmes\u00a0<\/em>sequel,\u00a0The Beautiful Game\u00a0<\/em>(later in 2022), and\u00a0Half of a Yellow Sun<\/em>. Her television credits include\u00a0Cheaters, Toast of Tinseltown, The House, Rules of the Game, Year of the Rabbit, Truth Seekers, Dark Money, Crazyhead, Crashing, Porters\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0Chewing Gum<\/em>. Susan has performed in many renowned theatres, including the National Theatre, the Bush, the Royal Court, Regent\u2019s Open Air Theatre, St Ann\u2019s Warehouse in New York, the Crucible in Sheffield and, most recently,\u00a0Teenage Dick\u00a0<\/em>at the Donmar Warehouse.<\/p>\nSusan wrote, starred in and produced an award-winning short film called\u00a0Love the Sinner\u00a0<\/em>(Sky\/Roughcut). She has written on shows such as\u00a0The Reluctant Landlord\u00a0<\/em>(Sky), been in the writers room for\u00a0Sex Education<\/em>\u00a0series 2 (Netflix), and will make her directorial debut with the feature film\u00a0Three Weeks<\/em>\u00a0(BBC\/BFI\/Dorothy Street Pictures), which she also wrote and will star in. Susan is a patron of charity\u00a0The Monobox, and is also a regular co-host of the hit comedy podcast\u00a0The Guilty Feminist<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Screen Judges<\/h3>\n
Since 2016, leading industry figures have judged screen performances of the Spotlight Prize monologues. Our panel of casting directors have hugely successful careers, working across a varied range of television and feature films and will be awarding the prize to one of the nominees for Best Actor (Screen).<\/p>\n
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Deborah Aquila (CSA)<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n
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After graduating from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and Stella Adler Conservatory, Deborah worked on the first two seasons of\u00a0Miami Vice\u00a0<\/em>and several feature films, including Michael Mann’s\u00a0Man Hunter<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0The Pope of Greenwich Village<\/em>, as an associate. Her independent casting director career began with Steven Soderbergh’s\u00a0Sex, Lies and Videotape\u00a0<\/em>and Uli Edel’s\u00a0Last Exit to Brooklyn<\/em>. Before moving to Los Angeles in 1993 to cast Frank Darabont’s\u00a0The Shawshank Redemption<\/em>, Deborah had completed over 18 independent films in New York.<\/p>\nIn 1993, she was named Senior Vice President of Features Casting for Paramount Pictures. During her nine-year tenure at the studio, Deborah cast such notable films as\u00a0Primal Fear, Mission: Impossible II, Double Jeopardy, Varsity Blues, The Brady Bunch, Kiss the Girls, Mother<\/em>,<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0