Casting Directors Unveil the Craft Behind Unconventional TV Hits

As the 2025 Emmy season approaches, casting directors are shedding light on the often misunderstood art of casting. In a recent interview, "Adolescence" casting director Shaheen Baig emphasized that casting is not as simple as just picking "the same five people you see in everything." Rather, it involves a great deal of time, effort, and creative thinking to build a cohesive ensemble.

Several Emmy-nominated casting directors have chosen to spotlight shows where their unconventional casting choices have paid off in a big way. For example, it's now impossible to imagine anyone other than Jenny Slate as Nikki in "Dying For Sex" or Olafur Darri Olafsson as Mr. Drummond in "Severance." These casting decisions, which may have seemed risky at first, have become integral to the success of these acclaimed series.

The casting directors point out that the key is finding performers who can reveal new sides of themselves and flex different muscles from their previous roles. This alchemy of casting is what helps create TV ensembles where, as "Severance" casting director Rachel Tenner says, "every member feels essential." Whether it's building a strong ensemble, running an unconventional search for leads, or finding pitch-perfect guest stars, the craft of casting is on full display in these Emmy-nominated shows.