Lara Manwaring is casting some of the most anticipated independent features being made today by the new generation of UK filmmakers.

They include a modern British Asian adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, led by Riz Ahmed and directed by Aneil Karia, and Sweet Sue, the new feature from Leo Leigh backed by BBC Film. “I’m lucky to be working with directors I find exciting, and with scripts I’m passionate about,” she says. “I love it when I read something that feels entirely of its own, like nothing I’ve read before.”

It is an approach she has adopted throughout her career. After a stint as an assistant at documentary funder Britdoc (now Doc Society), Manwaring was introduced to casting director Des Hamilton in 2009, who was fresh from This Is England and Four Lions. She worked with Hamilton for eight years on features including Paddy Considine’s Tyrannosaur, Lars von Trier’s Melancholia, Andrea Arnold’s Wuthering Heights and drama series Top Boy.

In 2017, Manwaring set up her own company and has cast several film and TV projects to date including Panos Cosmatos’s Mandy, which stars Andrea Riseborough and Nicolas Cage, Karia’s feature directing debut Surge, and Bafta-nominated shorts Work and Wren Boys. She also worked on Fyzal Boulifa’s Lynn + Lucy, casting non-professional actress Roxanne Scrimshaw, who went on to be nominated for most promising newcomer at the Bifas. “The most exciting part of the casting process is discovering brand new talent — then seeing them go on to other projects,” she says.

Manwaring — who was born in London to an Indian mother and English father — adds: “Coming from an Asian background, I’d love the opportunity to work on more Asian stories, whether that’s with talent behind or in front of the camera.”

Upcoming projects she is casting include The Marina, from Qatari writer/director Sophia Al Maria; an untitled Film4 project written by 2020 Star of Tomorrow Courttia Newland (Small Axe); and the untitled feature directing debut of Billy Lumby, which centres on a character dealing with psychosis.

Contact: Roxana Adle, Lark Management

Topics