Nina Gold is one of the unsung heroes of Game of Thrones. She’s responsible for getting big stars like Sean Bean (Ned Stark) to appear on the show, and for casting the smaller actors who have since become big stars, like Maisie Williams (Arya) and Sophie Turner (Sansa). “I feel like a proud parent to lots of the wonderful actors in Game of Thrones,” she recently told The Hollywood Reporter. Without her, we would probably be watching a very different show.
In honor of her accomplishments on Thrones and elsewhere, Star Wars: The Force Awakens director J.J. Abrams presented her with the prestigious Hoyt Bowers Award at yesterday’s CSA Artios Awards, which are put on by the Casting Society of America. (Boyers was a venerated Hollywood casting director.) I think we can all agree that it was well deserved.
Nina Gold with one of her discoveries.
Although Gold has worked with plenty of big stars, she loves casting roles with unknowns. “”It’s so exciting watching them develop and have some fresh ideas.” On that note, she considers Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen) to be her most memorable recent discovery, as the actress came onto Game of Thrones “pretty fresh from drama school.” She also cast Daisy Ridley and John Boyega in The Force Awakens (hence why Abrams gave her the award) and Golden Globe-winning Claire Foy in Netflix’s The Crown. And if you want proof that Gold is still in full command of her gifts, look no further than Bella Ramsey (Lyanna Mormont), Game of Thrones’ newest scene-stealer.
Basically, rock on, Nina Gold.