Shaheen Baig, the casting director behind hit shows such as Peaky Blinders and Sherwood, added an Emmy to her accolades this year for her work on Netflix's Adolescence. The series swept the awards in September, winning best limited series, writing, directing, and cinematography, as well as acting awards for Stephen Graham, Erin Doherty, and Owen Cooper. Baig's Emmy for best casting, however, often goes overlooked.
Baig discovered 14-year-old Owen Cooper for his first-ever acting role after a six-month search across five northern English cities. 'We thoroughly researched those cities. We created databases. We looked at schools, youth groups, art groups, music groups,' she said. The team sent out flyers on social media and street cast, eventually receiving 600 audition tapes. After rounds of improvisation and script work, they narrowed it down to five finalists, all of whom were cast in the show.
Cooper stood out for his ability to listen and connect with co-star Stephen Graham, as well as his focus during repeated takes. 'That's a rare find,' Baig noted. The casting director, who also worked on A Thousand Blows, Toxic Town, and other projects this year, said the recognition for casting is overdue. 'It's a collaboration... a huge amount of work and skill goes into creating a cast,' she said, adding that she is usually shy but welcomes the visibility for her profession.
