casting director

Meaning

A casting director is the person responsible for finding and selecting actors to play the various roles in a film, television show, commercial, or play. They hold auditions, review headshots, and recommend the best candidates to the director and producers. They play a vital role in shaping the creative vision of a project by assembling the perfect cast.

Examples

• The casting director held auditions for over three hundred actors to find the lead role.

  The casting director held auditions for over three hundred actors to find the lead role.

• If you want to get noticed by a casting director, you need a professional headshot.

  If you want to get noticed by a casting director, you need a professional headshot.

• The casting director immediately knew she was perfect for the part of the detective.

  The casting director immediately knew she was perfect for the part of the detective.

• He sent his acting resume directly to the casting director's office.

  He sent his acting resume directly to the casting director's office.

• A good casting director can see potential in an actor even during a brief audition.

  A good casting director can see potential in an actor even during a brief audition.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The actor selector liked my performance.

  ✓ The casting director liked my performance.

  'Actor selector' is not a real term. The correct industry title is 'casting director.'

• ✗ The casting director chose the script for the new movie.

  ✓ The casting director chose the actors for the new movie.

  A casting director's job is solely to find actors; they do not choose scripts, which is the job of producers or directors.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The ___ called her back for a second audition next Thursday.

  💡 The person in charge of hiring actors.

  Show answer

  casting director

• To get a role in the new drama, he had to impress the ___ first.

  💡 The professional who reviews actor auditions.

  Show answer

  casting director