PREVIEW: What Casting Directors REALLY Want From Actors - With 3 x Emmy-Nominated 'House Of The Dragon' Casting Director Kate Rhodes James!
Sep 25, 2026*Act On This members get access to the FULL 90 MINUTE recording of this feature, in BOTH video and audio-only formats. CLICK HERE to grab your PREMIUM membership NOW!
Kate Rhodes James is a 3 x Emmy-nominated casting director working across some of the biggest TV and film productions in the world.
Her extraordinary credits include House Of The Dragon, Alien: Earth, Gladiator II, Napoleon, House Of Gucci, The Last Duel, Line Of Duty, Bodyguard, Sherlock, The Terror and Raised By Wolves.
With over 30 years in casting, Kate has built an incredible reputation for discovering, championing and taking chances on actors - from established names to exciting new talent she's never worked with before.
In this 90 MINUTE member-only mastermind, we pull the curtain back on Kate's casting process, discover exactly what gets an actor on her radar, reveal what makes a self-tape impossible to ignore, explore the return of in-person auditions - and members of Act On This jump on camera for some 1-2-1 coaching too!
During the broadcast, we discuss:
- The ONE thing Kate says has NEVER changed in 30+ years of casting.
- The simple question Kate asks herself whenever she watches an actor perform.
- Why getting an audition from Kate means you already have a "cheerleader" in the casting room.
- Why "work begets work" - and how relationships can transform your career.
- How Kate's casting team works behind the scenes on HUGE productions.
- Why Kate is actively bringing actors back into the room for auditions.
- How Kate casts the smaller roles on 'House Of The Dragon' - and why they can be the HARDEST to play.
- The unusual physical qualities Kate looks for when casting 'House Of The Dragon'.
- Why Kate keeps ongoing files of exciting actors she's spotted - ready for the RIGHT role.
- When you SHOULD proactively email Kate's office to get on her radar.
- The practical skills that could get you considered for 'House Of The Dragon'.
- How auditions for secretive HBO productions REALLY work - from dummy sides to NDAs.
- Kate's biggest self-tape bugbears - and the mistakes that instantly distract her.
- Why spending a fortune on your self-tape setup WON'T book you the job.
- Why Kate sees your self-tape as your "business card" - NOT the finished performance.
- The ONE acting choice that can make a director lean forward.
- Why Kate would rather see ONE brilliant self-tape than multiple different takes.
- How actors can land a general meeting with Kate.
- What makes Kate take a chance on an actor she's NEVER worked with before.
- How to BREAK OUT of being typecast.
- Whether actors really need Instagram and a big social following in 2026.
- Why bitterness, jealousy and blaming your agent could be damaging your career.
- The quality Kate sees again and again in successful actors she wants on her sets.
- The ONE thing Kate wants EVERY actor to know.
- And MUCH MUCH more!
Want to discover what it REALLY takes to get on the radar of a casting director working at the very top of TV & film?
Hit 'play' NOW!
---
Watch a PREVIEW of this broadcast above, then grab your PREMIUM membership to unlock the full chat!
It's waiting for you in the Members' Area!
