For the first time in its history, the Academy Awards will honour the often-unsung heroes who shape the silver screen: casting directors. Among the frontrunners for this inaugural award is one of the industry's most influential figures, Nina Gold, recognised for her masterful work on the critically adored period drama, Hamnet.
The Perfect Pairing: Buckley and Mescal
Gold's instinct to pair Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal as the leads in Hamnet proved to be a stroke of genius. The film recently triumphed at the Golden Globes, winning Best Motion Picture Drama, with Buckley securing Best Female Actor. Both are now tipped for Oscar success.
Reflecting on her choices, Gold stated she knew Buckley was perfect for the role of Agnes from the outset. "She has this quality of connectedness to the physical world that Agnes has, and she's devoid of bullshit in the same way Agnes is," Gold explained. Of Mescal, she praised his lack of ego, noting he was "celebrated and fancy" but still willing to do a chemistry read to ensure the partnership was right.
A Career of Creating Stars
Nina Gold's portfolio reads like a guide to the biggest film and television of the last thirty years. Her casting credits are staggering, encompassing projects from Game of Thrones and The Crown to Slow Horses, The Day of the Jackal, multiple Star Wars films, and last year's award-winner Conclave. In 2025 alone, she worked on over ten projects.
Her accolades include multiple Emmy Awards and a BAFTA Special Award for her outstanding contribution. Gold has been instrumental in launching the careers of major stars, including Claire Foy, Eddie Redmayne, and John Boyega, whom she cast in Attack the Block after seeing him in a small play. She also discovered Maisie Williams for Game of Thrones after auditioning around 200 actors for Arya Stark.
Instinct Over Formula
When asked about her process, Gold dismisses the idea of a single formula. "There's an analytical side – shared qualities between actor and character – but ultimately it's instinct," she said. "If you can get the actor and the character to intersect at exactly the right point, then it really is magic."
Gold's career began unconventionally, recruiting extras for an AC/DC music video. A pivotal break came when she cast a 1992 McDonald's advert directed by Mike Leigh. This led to a lasting collaboration, with Gold casting seven of Leigh's films. The director once praised her "uncanny ability to get it" and differentiate between actors at the most subtle level.
Addressing diversity in the industry, Gold acknowledges persistent barriers, particularly around class. "Drama schools aren't as diverse as they used to be because of cost," she noted, but emphasised that brilliant working-class actors are still out there. She recently cast the new BBC show Waiting for the Out, which features predominantly working-class performers.
With the new Oscar category finally giving casting directors their due, Nina Gold stands as a testament to the profound creative impact of matching the right performer with the right part. Her shortlisting for Hamnet is a celebration of a career built not on ego, but on an unerring eye for talent.
