The British film industry is mourning the loss of one of its most formidable and influential talents, Susie Figgis, who has died at the age of 77. The legendary casting director, whose career spanned over four decades, was the creative force behind the ensembles of iconic films ranging from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone to The Crying Game.
A Volcanic First Meeting and a Lasting Legacy
Producer Stephen Woolley first met Figgis over 40 years ago when interviewing her for Neil Jordan's The Company of Wolves. Their encounter on the roof of London's Scala cinema was, in Woolley's words, a "volcanic eruption of unbridled enthusiasm." Figgis, already established after casting Ben Kingsley in Gandhi, unleashed a torrent of passion for the script that was both explosive and utterly convincing.
This meeting began a professional relationship spanning more than 23 films. For The Company of Wolves, her meticulous approach led to the discovery of Sarah Patterson for the lead role of Rosaleen. She then astounded the production by securing Hollywood legend Angela Lansbury to play Grannie, and populated the strange fairytale with a perfect supporting cast of dancers and veteran actors.
The Architect of Iconic Casting Choices
Figgis possessed an unparalleled eye for talent. For director Neil Jordan alone, she was responsible for a series of career-defining discoveries: Cathy Tyson in Mona Lisa, the groundbreaking casting of Jaye Davidson in The Crying Game, and Eamonn Owens in The Butcher Boy.
Her filmography reads as a history of modern British and Hollywood cinema. She worked on Oscar and Bafta-winning productions including The Killing Fields, The Mission, Local Hero, and Scandal. Throughout the 1980s and 90s, she seamlessly moved between big-budget Hollywood projects and pioneering independent films, casting classics like The Piano, The Full Monty, and Interview with the Vampire.
A Unique 'Molotov Cocktail' Personality
Figgis was renowned for her unique character—a blend of unashamed, no-nonsense British professionalism and subversive leftwing radicalism. Woolley described this as a "molotov cocktail personality," disarmingly honest and fiercely committed. Her background in the avant-garde The People Show collective, alongside her cousin director Mike Figgis, informed a deep belief in absolute commitment, and she had little patience for unprofessionalism.
Her passion often led to animated discussions, but directors knew they were in safe, if eccentric, hands. This trust led to her overseeing the casting of the first Harry Potter film, a monumental task she approached with typical vigour. She also maintained a long, amicable collaboration with Tim Burton on his UK films like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Sweeney Todd.
Susie Figgis gave 100% to every project, her ribald humour and infectious love for cinema providing propulsive energy. In today's landscape, her fearless presence and inspirational casting genius are seen as irreplaceable. She is survived by a legacy of films that continue to captivate audiences, each bearing the mark of her extraordinary eye.
