With the long-awaited “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” in theaters May 1, casting directors Ellen Lewis and Shayna Markowitz faced a task as high-stakes as a Runway cover story: assembling the perfect ensemble to star alongside Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci.
When we spoke with Markowitz last year, she shared her excitement about the film, saying, “I just really look forward to seeing it in May. It was a blast to work on and super iconic, and I’m really excited to see how it all turned out.”
To celebrate the sequel’s debut, we went back into our archives to pull audition advice from Markowitz and Lewis (Lewis also cast the original 2006 comedy). From decoding the silent feedback of callbacks to launching careers outside major acting hubs, here’s essential audition advice from the pair who shaped the next chapter of this iconic franchise.
A callback can be the best kind of feedback.
It’s a common frustration for actors: leaving an audition room and hearing nothing. However, Markowitz notes that your grade isn’t always a yes or no on a single role.
“The best feedback is if a casting director keeps inviting you to audition for them, even if you never book a part, because that means they are seeing something in you,” Markowitz says. “We don’t want to waste our time…. If you keep getting called by the same office, that means you’re doing something right.”
Persistence, in this case, is proof of talent. If you are being asked to audition, Markowitz explains you are being considered as a potential solution to CDs’ “problem” of trying to fulfill a role.
Preparation should be met with some flexibility.
While knowing your lines is the baseline, Markowitz emphasizes that true preparation is about being “open, respectful, and kind.” The CD advises actors to arrive ready for the material to shift on a dime.
“Be prepared to maybe be asked to do something different,” she says. “Know your lines, and just be open.” The goal isn’t simply to recite a script; it’s to show you can take direction and collaborate in the moment.
Understand the reality of rejection.
Lewis acknowledges that acting is an incredibly difficult career because it is so heavily filled with rejection. Even a perfect performance doesn’t always guarantee a win.
“You have maybe done the best audition ever, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re going to get the part because there are other factors at play,” Lewis explains. Because of this, she prioritizes the environment of the room: “I want an actor to feel comfortable. I want an actor to do the best job that they can. I think it’s important for actors always to know that we want you to do well…. I want an actor to feel that they can do their best.”
“The biggest thing that actors should know is that casting directors are on your side,” says Markowitz. “If you do a good job, then we do a good job, because we’ve solved the problem of who’s going to play this role.”
You can look beyond New York City and Los Angeles.
For those feeling the pressure to move to a major entertainment hub, Lewis offers some relief. While NYC and Los Angeles are the industry’s traditional production centers, the CD stresses that talent can be nurtured anywhere.
“You don’t have to be in New York or Los Angeles,” Lewis says. “Every community, and certainly every city, I think of almost any size, has some kind of theater going on, whether it be through church or community theater. I think you can be in other places. I’m from Chicago, one of the most thriving theater communities in our country.”
Stay true to yourself.
One message from the film’s CDs is clear: Control what you can—your preparation, your kindness, and your craft, and let go of the rest. In a world of groundbreaking expectations, being yourself and staying authentic in the game is the best way to land a role that’s right for you.
