Book adaptations—especially those in the young adult genre—continue to dominate television. The British series “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder,” created by Poppy Cogan, is the latest sleuthing to make its way onto our screens, premiering on Netflix on Aug. 1. Based on Holly Jackson’s 2019 YA novel of the same name, the teen mystery follows high school senior Pippa “Pip” Fitz-Amobi as she tries to uncover the truth of a former classmate’s murder. The book series has a strong fan base, particularly on TikTok, which means the casting of its beloved characters is a key factor in its success.
What should actors know about getting cast in a popular YA book adaptation? We sat down with casting director Catherine Willis to hear how she found the right talent to embody Jackson’s “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” characters.
Finding your lead character, whether for an adaptation or not, is an important piece of the casting puzzle, explains Willis. “Casting is such a jigsaw; you just need one piece to slot in, and then everything grows from there,” she says.
When casting the role of Pip, Willis wanted someone who would stand out. “Wednesday” star Myers, who plays Wednesday Addams’ werewolf roommate Enid Sinclair on the hit Netflix series, ended up being the perfect fit. “The book is such a huge success in its own right; it didn’t need a star,” says Willis. “But there’s always [that want] in the back of the commissioner’s mind. So, it was just one of those calls I made [to Myers], thinking, This is never going to happen.
“Emma read the script, and her team was very supportive of the project. I think because it’s so different. It’s working in a completely different style of show…working in a different accent. We had a Zoom [meeting] with her, and she did a really good British accent for us. We managed to make it all work with her dates. And then that was lovely, because we could start building around her—you know, who are her family going to be? Who is her core group of friends?”
Willis continues, “So while we were working through it with [Myers] and her team, we were still seeing people for all the other roles. And then… all the little balls started to drop into place. And we suddenly went, ‘Oh—we cast it! And we love them!’ ”
As for how Willis knew Myers was right for the role, she says it was the actor’s “likability” and “vulnerability.”
“The character of Pip is brilliant and clever, but it would be really easy to not like her,” Willis says. “[Pip is] quite smart, quite pushy, and she’s always one step ahead. So, we needed someone who brought a softness. What [Myers] brings also is an incredible vulnerability to that character. The loveliest kind of moments are with her and the character of Ravi [Zain Iqbal]; [Pip’s] never been interested in boys and is starting to have this whole new kind of life experience. Emma just brought all of that brilliantly, and we just fell in love with Pip through her.”
Willis jokes, “And, obviously, she had her own fan base because of ‘Wednesday’—which isn’t a bad thing, you know.”
Joss Barratt/Netflix
“When [you’re working on] an adaptation, [you have] to be so careful, because fans are fanatical. They love the story and they love the characters,” says Willis. But the CD believes the casting process is a “mixture” of matching the source material and having actors be themselves in the audition room.
“I think what you need is someone who brings even more than there is on the page,” she says. “Because we all sit there with our book and huge imagination. And we could have cast a perfectly brilliant, wonderful young actor in the role of Pip, but if we didn’t like them [or] worry about them [or] feel sorry for them, then we’re not bringing out the feelings that audiences who know Pip already want to have. And also, why are you going to watch a whole series with someone that you don’t like?”
Besides Myers, the rest of the cast of “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” is made up of fresh faces. When asked where Willis looks for new talent, she told us “anywhere and everywhere.”
“I do a lot of work with this age group, so I meet a lot of people,” says Willis. “It’s everywhere—from showcases, drama schools, weekend schools, suggestions. People write to me. I go to workshops. I watch what people put online, who record their own stuff. I also go to a lot of theater.”
Credit: Sally Mais/Netflix
Willis says making choices and owning the process can help actors stand out from the crowd.
“When you’re in an audition, that is your time,” explains Willis. “If you have a question to ask, then ask it. There might not always be an answer. Sometimes I have to say, ‘I don’t know. Let’s find out,’ or, ‘Let’s try it both ways.’ But your audition is yours. So, just make the most of it by really making choices.
“You go into a room; you’re nervous. You’ve got your bit of paper with your lines on it. But just commit to [the audition]. And if you make a false start, ask if you can start again. Because what I want to do is forget you’re acting…. If I respond emotionally to you as the character, then you’ve won. And even if I don’t cast you in that [role,] I will get you back 100 times. Because, you know, what actors do is magic, and I want to believe,” says Willis.
“It’s the pen-drop moment or the goosebump moment, where I suddenly go, ‘I can see you,’ ” adds Willis. “I can see the character; [I’m] not looking at the actor anymore.”
Courtesy Netflix
Willis says self-tapes are still key to getting seen and landing a role. Want to learn how to make a standout tape? Here’s Willis’ go-to advice:
- Keep it simple: “Don’t send seven takes. If you think there are two really strong ways that you could do a scene, send two takes. As long as I can see you or hear you, I don’t need a whole load of equipment or a load of fancy costumes and backgrounds.”
- Be comfortable with it: “People get hung up on: ‘Where do I look? What should I do? Should I have props?’ [Ask yourself], what works for you? I had an amazing self-tape once about this character that was drunk in a forest [because the actor] couldn’t come in to meet. So this actor did this amazing take where he was out in the woods talking to horses and holding a chicken. And it was hilarious, because that’s where he happened to be, and it was easy for him to do that. I will always remember that audition.”
- Don’t forget to put your name on the tape: “The biggest [advice I can give] is make sure your name’s on it. We still get tapes with no names, and we’re like, ‘Yeah, don’t know who that is.’ ”
Courtesy Netflix
As of now, it’s unclear if “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” is getting a second season. The series, commissioned by the BBC and produced by Moonage Pictures in co-production with ZDFneo and Netflix, first aired on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer. It comes to Netflix on Aug. 1, which means there’s a possibility it could be greenlit for another season. Jackson’s book series has three novels in total, so if the show does get renewed, there’s also potential for open casting calls. Stay tuned for more details!
In the meantime, if you’re looking for more audition advice with the hopes of getting cast on another beloved book-to-screen series, check out these guides.