Helen Lewis: “I Choose Actors for Scorsese and Spielberg”

The renowned casting director, Helen Lewis, will attend the 65th Thessaloniki International Film Festival, where she will share behind-the-scenes stories, explain the criteria she uses to select lead actors and discuss the Hollywood stars who owe their success to her.

Helen Lewis is the mastermind behind the casting of Martin Scorsese’s mafia worlds, the role that won Tom Hanks his Oscar in Forrest Gump, and the transformation of Meryl Streep into Vogue’s editor Anna Wintour in The Devil Wears Prada. She also discovered Margot Robbie, launching her career with The Wolf of Wall Street. Trusted by directors like Scorsese, Jim Jarmusch, Woody Allen, and Steven Spielberg, Lewis has become a go-to expert in Hollywood casting.

On Friday, November 8, Lewis will present a masterclass titled The Art and Technique of Casting in Cinema at the Thessaloniki Film Festival, which promises to feature some of the biggest names in film this year.

The Secrets of Casting

Casting is not something one can learn in film school—it’s a skill acquired through experience. Choosing the right actors to bring a film to life is a challenging responsibility. As Lewis explains, “We are the director’s right hand, helping to realize their vision. It’s far from easy to choose the right actor for each role.”

Lewis credits legendary casting director Juliet Taylor for teaching her the trade: “She taught me to listen to the director, understand the world of the film, and broaden my horizons to provide the best casting advice.”

Collaborations with Woody Allen and Martin Scorsese

Lewis’s career began with casting roles for Woody Allen, Steven Spielberg, and Martin Scorsese. Her discovery of Margot Robbie, casting her as Leonardo DiCaprio’s wife in The Wolf of Wall Street, is just one example of her talent for spotting future stars.

In The Devil Wears Prada, Lewis played a pivotal role in casting Emily Blunt, turning her supporting role into a breakthrough success. “You never know when an actor will shine,” Lewis notes. “But that’s the magic of casting—identifying the potential in each actor, even in secondary roles.”

Her process for casting films is meticulous, emphasizing collaboration and trust between directors and casting teams. “I’m certain Greece has excellent casting directors,” she adds, excited to connect with the Greek film industry.

Iconic Mafia Films and the Magic of New York

Lewis also recalls casting for Goodfellas, one of Scorsese’s mafia masterpieces. She found inspiration in New York’s theater scene and even an Italian restaurant, where she and Scorsese met actors who would later appear in the film.

Lewis’s love for her work is evident: “It’s a difficult but wonderful job, and I love it dearly.” She expresses excitement about her upcoming visit to Greece, where she last traveled in 1977, and looks forward to her masterclass at the Thessaloniki Film Festival.