Nina Gold: Special Award 2016

Nina Gold, industry-renowned casting director on Game of Thrones and Wolf Hall, was delighted to receive a special BAFTA at the Television Craft Awards 2016.

Gold was recognised for her casting skills on critically acclaimed television series and films including Paddington, The King’s Speech and Game of Thrones. She reacted by saying:

“I feel both delighted and humbled to be the first casting director to receive this Special Award. It is wonderful that BAFTA has shone a light onto the craft of casting.”

She’s well-known for launching new faces into high-profile roles, like Claire Foy as Anne Boleyn in hit BBC series Wolf Hall.

“Wolf Hall was the first job that I ever got,” says Foy.

Watch Gold collect her award below:

Gold cut her casting teeth on the films Twin Town and The Borrowers in 1997. Since then she’s developed a network of creative connections across the industry.

“Nina always seems to have a kaleidoscopic notion about where actors are in the world and what they’re doing,” says Billy Elliot director Stephen Daldry.

“She also has an instinctive understanding of the text. Who will add to the text? Who will bring it to life in the right way? She has the ability to marry the right actor to the right director – and that’s a particular skill.”

“What’s brilliant about her, and what puts her head and shoulders above any other casting director, is that she’s really sharp and has great perception,” adds Vera Drake director Mike Leigh.

Read our full interview with Nina in the Television Craft Awards brochure.

A BAFTA Special Award is one of the academy’s highest honours recognising an outstanding contribution to film, games or television. You can see more award winners in our Awards database.

Previous winners include renowned vision mixer Hilary Briegel and the team behind Strictly Come Dancing.

For more inspiring stories from the world of film, games and TV explore our BAFTA Award Stories section.