In Conversation with Casting Director Leigh Pickford and Helen Dallimore

Host(s)

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  Leigh Pickford

  Casting Director: Having completed a BA in Film and Media Studies at Middlesex University in London, Leigh began his career working with esteemed film director and two-time Palme D’Or winner Ken Loach. Leigh worked with Loach and producer Rebecca O’Brien for five years and was part of the founding team of their production company Sixteen Films. Over that time he worked on a variety of film and television productions. Upon emigrating to Australia in 2004 Leigh’s interest in the craft of acting peaked his desire to pursue a career as a Casting Director. Leigh found the unique challenge of finding and shaping a cast as an authentic representation of a cinematic story was something that stimulated him greatly, leading to a deep passion for the craft. He joined Maura Fay Casting in 2004 and since that time Leigh has cemented his place as one of the most respected and sought after casting directors in Australia. Recent film projects include Audrey with Jackie van Beek directed by Natalie Baily, Late Night with the Devil with David Dastmalchian directed by the Cairnes brothers, Woody Woodpecker 2 for Universal Studios and Netflix with Mary-Louise Parker and Josh Lawson, docudrama The Speedway Murders, Poker Face with Russell Crowe, RZA, Elsa Pataky and Liam Hemsworth, Mercy Road with Luke Bracey, Hotel Mumbai with Dev Patel, Jason Issacs and Nazanin Boniadi, Winchester with Helen Mirren, Sarah Snook and Jason Clarke and Three Summers with esteemed writer/director, Ben Elton. Recent television projects include Good Cop Bad Cop with Leighton Meester and Clancy Brown for the CW Network, Optics with Jenna Owen and Vic Zerbst for ABC TV, NCIS Sydney with Olivia Swann and Todd Lasance for CBS and Paramount +, The Artful Dodger with Thomas Brodie-Sangster and David Thewlis for Disney +, North Shore with John Bradley and Joanne Froggatt for Paramount +, Ten Pound Poms for BBC and STAN, The Tourist with Jamie Dornan for BBC and HBO Max, The Commons with Joanne Froggatt for Sony Pictures Television, Hungry Ghosts for NBC Universal and series four of Preacher for Sony Pictures Television and AMC. Leigh has been twice nominated for Best Casting by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award (AACTA) for his work on Hotel Mumbai and the Easybeats biopic Friday on My Mind.
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  Helen Dallimore

  Helen Dallimore is an actress, singer, director and writer. A NIDA graduate, she has enjoyed a successful career in theatre, musical theatre, film and television both in Australia and in the UK. She created the role of ‘Glinda’ in the West End production of Wicked opposite Idina Menzel and played ‘Cinderella’ in the Olivier Award Winning Regent’s Park production of Into the Woods. She won the Helpmann Award for her performance in Legally Blonde the Musical. Her recent stage roles include Girl From the North Country for GWB Entertainment, The Wharf Revue, Muriel’s Wedding: The Musical for the Sydney Theatre Company, as well as ‘Judy Garland’ in End of the Rainbow for State Theatre Company South Australia, garnering critical acclaim. Her many screen credits include Mr Accident, Russian Doll, Secret Bridesmaid’s Business, Midsomer Murders, Postcard Bandit, The Day of the Roses, Two Heads Creek, North Shore, The Moodys, House Husbands, and the Emmy Award winning Hardball. Helen played ‘Olivia O’Neill’ in Jungle/Channel Nine’s Here Come the Habibs, for which she was also a writer. Other writing credits include the ABC comedy, Sando. She has been directing theatre for over twenty years, most recent credits including A Life in the Theatre for Darlinghurst Theatre and High Society, The Fantasticks, and Everybody Loves Lucy at Hayes Theatre Company.