Camilla Arthur - I Never Worked For Another Casting Director, But I Knew Enough (Casting Director)

I Have Provided 'Absolutely Fabulous' The Movie With Authentic Casting Of Three Scenes.

1. Tell us about your background and journey. 

My career started at Laraine Ashton IMG a top London model agency, where I trained to be a booker. After running the women's division at Models One I opened an agency 'Camilla Arthur Representation' where we represented fashion, beauty and reportage photographers, stylists, hair & m/up artists. As their sole European agent I represented my roster of talent throughout Europe, developing their individual careers, negotiating the fees and subsequently producing all the photographic work the agency had booked. Then after a spell in LA working as a stylist on commercials & music videos I started Camilla Arthur Casting. From ’93 to 2013

I was based between London and Los Angeles, but since 2013 Camilla Arthur Casting has been operating almost entirely from London. Specialising in commercials, print advertising and editorial but since returning to the UK I branched out to include film & TV, casting featured roles for Steve Baron's movie 'B Namen' (2015) and ‘Lead’ by Frank Lebon (my son!). I provided 'Absolutely Fabulous' the movie with 'authentic casting' of three scenes and am at present casting the feature ‘Burners’ set in the underground graffiti scene & directed by Peter King. 

In 1993 I initiated 'street casting' as an actual casting format and consequently I have an incredible database of unrepresented talent - almost all of them could be pro models, if they wanted to, but due to having other primary occupations they choose instead to work 'on the side' for me only.

My portfolio of work is available on my website, but if you really want to see what I do I suggest you watch the following (they all have GREAT sound tracks so you shouldn't get bored!) Sound track 1, Sound track 2, Sound track 3, Sound track 4.

2. How do you decide who to cast for an important role? 

I don't - the director has the final say, I simply put forward a small selection of who I think would be best for that role and then the director picks his/her favourite.

3. How did you start this business?

 As you read above, I never worked for another casting director, but I knew enough about it to literally just open for business one day and continued the most logical route (I might still be doing it completely wrong!)

4. What is your biggest pet peeve in the audition room? 

Too much make-up!

5. What qualities do you (or don’t you) look for in actors?

Natural and authentic, no over-acting, nothing cheesy!

6. Which is your favourite book and why?

Anything by Carl Hiaasen because he's a master of satire, dry as a bone & laugh-out-loud funny & same goes for all things David Sedaris for the same reasons.

7. Who would you like to work with and why? 

Michelle Pfeiffer because she's amazing & so beautiful, Colin Farrell because he's so hot and Anthony Hopkins or John Malkovich because of their talent. Goodness that last answer was seriously superficial! 

- Camilla Authur (Casting Director)

- Interviewed By Pratibha Sahani