Casting Guild of Australia Podcast

CGA Rising Stars 2025: Clare Hughes and Anousha Zarkesh.

Each year, the members of the CGA come together to identify a group of up to 10 extraordinary actors we believe have the potential to break out on the world stage; The CGA Rising Stars.
On this episode, CGA Award Winner Anousha Zarkesh interviews Clare Hughes. 
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Clare Hughes graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art in 2022. Straight out of drama school Clare was cast in the leading role of “Lisa” in the ABC television series adaptation LADIES IN BLACK, which also stars Debi Mazar and Miranda Otto.
Following this, Clare completed filming on the second season of successful ABC series TEN POUND POMS (SEASON 2) playing the role of “Birdie”.
Clare made her professional theatre debut in the Old Fitz production of SITTING, SCREAMING, directed by Lucy Clements. She is currently performing in MARY PAGE MARLOWE at the Old Vic in London, opposite Susan Sarandon and Andrea Riseborough.
Clare is an accomplished piano player and was a member of the Australian Girls Choir.
She completed a Diploma of Acting at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAPPA) before attending NIDA.

CGA Rising Stars 2025: Roxie Mohebbi and Amanda Mitchell.

Each year, the members of the CGA come together to identify a group of up to 10 extraordinary actors we believe have the potential to break out on the world stage; The CGA Rising Stars.On this episode, Casting Guild member Amanda Mitchell interviews Roxie Mohebbi.
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Roxie Mohebbi is an actor of Middle Eastern heritage, best known for playing Doctor Samira Moradi on New Zealand's prime time soap 'Shortland Street' as well as Tsumori in Netflix's 'New Legend of Monkey'.Roxie has starred in international award winning campaign 'Pre-Testie Bestie', notable comedy series 'Good Grief' and recently in Simone Nathan's semi-autobiographical series 'Kid Sister'. In 2021 she was also cast in Loren Taylor's 'Going Gone' and is set to appear in the third season of New Zealand drama 'One Lane Bridge'.Born in Iran, Roxie arrived to New Zealand as a refugee and has been a passionate activist who endeavours to bring MENA representation to script and screen.

CGA Rising Stars 2025: Stacy Clausen and Natalie Wall.

Each year, the members of the CGA come together to identify a group of up to 10 extraordinary actors we believe have the potential to break out on the world stage; The CGA Rising Stars.On this episode, Casting Guild member Natalie Wall interviews Stacy Clausen.
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Stacy has just wrapped playing a supporting role in a new Netflix Feature Film alongside some A-List Hollywood Stars. To be announced soon. Prior he booked the lead role in a new Causeway Films Feature Film, Also to be announced soon.  Other notable credits include playing one of the leading roles on a Sony Pictures Entertainment Feature Film also to be announced. Stacy also played one of the leads as 'Mapplethorpe Landis' in the horror comedy "Crazy Fun Park", (2023) winning best Children’s series at the 2023 Logie awards. He also portrayed the role of ‘Tom’ in family adventure hit ‘True Spirit’, reaching the number 2 film on Netflix’s global charts, as well as portraying the role ‘Allen’ in one of Stan’s most successful original series, ‘Scrublands’. Also, appeared in the supporting role of ‘Finn’ in Binge’s original mystery thriller ‘High Country’.
 
Of late, Stacy was listed in the top 10 of the ‘AACTA young stars’ competition hosted by the AACTA’s and judged by the likes of renowned casting directors Nikki Barrett (Elvis, Mad Max: Fury Road, Talk to Me, The Power of the Dog, The Babadook), Thea McLeod (Neighbours, Better Man, Measure For Measure, Pawno)  and Anousha Zarkesh (The New Boy, Mystery Road, Total Control, Preppers). 

CGA Rising Stars: Zoe Phillips and Chantelle Iemma.

Each year, the members of the CGA come together to identify a group of up to 10 extraordinary actors we believe have the potential to break out on the world stage; The CGA Rising Stars.On this episode, Casting Guild member Chantelle Iemma interviews Zoe Phillips.
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CGA Rising Stars 2025: Ioane Sa'ula and Will Pearce.

Each year, the members of the CGA come together to identify a group of up to 10 extraordinary actors we believe have the potential to break out on the world stage; The CGA Rising Stars.On this episode, CGA Award Winner Will Pearce interviews Ioane Sa'ula.
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Ioane Sa’ula is a young, emerging Samoan Australian actor who was born and raised in Griffith NSW.
Ioane is currently in production on the new Stan medical drama THE F WARD in the lead role of Jimmy, starring alongside Anna Friel and Dan Wyllie and will next be seen in the third and final season of the popular Netflix series HEARTBREAK HIGH, the highly anticipated second season of AppleTV+ series MONARCH: LEGACY OF MONSTERS with Anna Sawai and Kurt Russell, and the special Stan holiday feature BUMP: A CHRISTMAS FILM. 
Ioane made his Australian television debut playing Vince in Stan’s hugely popular series BUMP for 5 seasons. He has since appeared in numerous other television series including the ABC series PLUM, Paramount+ series LAST KING OF THE CROSS, ABC series PREPPERS and Channel Nine’s DOCTOR DOCTOR.
Ioane’s film credits include Rebel Wilson’s debut feature film THE DEB, David Leitch’s THE FALL GUY alongside Ryan Gosling, and Nash Edgerton’s award winning short film SHARK with Rose Byrne.
Ioane made his theatre debut in the ATYP production of SAPLINGS for Sydney Festival.
 

CGA Rising Stars 2025: Joseph Zada and Lou Mitchell.

Each year, the members of the CGA come together to identify a group of up to 10 extraordinary actors we believe have the potential to break out on the world stage; The CGA Rising Stars.On this episode, Casting Guild member Lou Mitchell interviews Joseph Zada.
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Joseph Zada is set to lead the next installment of THE HUNGER GAMES franchise reprising Woody Harrelson's iconic role of "Haymitch Abernathy". SUNRISE OF THE REAPING, based on the novel by Suzanne Collins, tells Haymitch's origin story and is set to be released by Lionsgate on November 20th, 2026. He will star alongside Glenn Close, Ralph Feinnes, Kieran Culkin, Jesse Plemmons and Elle Fanning. He will also soon be seen in the role of "Cal Trask" in Netflix’s limited series EAST OF EDEN, opposite Florence Pugh, Mike Faist and Christopher Abbott. Adapted by Zoe Kazan from John Steinbeck’s novel, the series is directed by Garth Davis and Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre and will release in 2026. 
 
Most recently, he can be seen starring as “Johnny Sinclair” in Julie Plec’s Amazon Prime Video series WE WERE LIARS, based on the best-selling novel by E. Lockhart. The series quickly rose to #1 on Prime Video’s Top 10 TV list. Zada can also be seen leading the STAN Original series INVISIBLE BOYS, based on best-selling novel by Holden Sheppard, currently streaming in Australia.

CGA Rising Stars 2025: Tharanya Tharan and Natalie Jane Harvey.

Each year, the members of the CGA come together to identify a group of up to 10 extraordinary actors we believe have the potential to break out on the world stage; The CGA Rising Stars.On this episode, Casting Guild member Natalie Jane Harvie interviews Tharanya Tharan. 
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Tharanya Tharan will next be seen in the Amazon MGM Studios feature adaptation of popular anime VOLTRON, alongside Henry Cavill, Rita Ora, Sterling K. Brown and Alba Baptista.
 
Her other credits include the Stan series YEAR OF, the spin off of the award-winning Stan series BUMP, Apple TV+ thriller drama series SHANTARAM alongside Charlie Hunnam, the Paramount+ series MORE THAN THIS, ABC Australia comedy series WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS and popular ABC Australia / Universal Kids series MUSTANGS FC.

CGA Rising Stars 2025: Lily LaTorre and Steph Pringle & Alison Fowler.

Each year, the members of the CGA come together to identify a group of up to 10 extraordinary actors we believe have the potential to break out on the world stage; The CGA Rising Stars.On this episode, Casting Guild members Steph Pringle and Alison Fowler (Chicken and Chips) interview Lily LaTorre. 
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With a depth and perception way beyond her years, it's no surprise that Lily is in constant  demand. She beautifully performs the lead role of Annie Shearer in Australian feature film,  Runt, based on the much-loved book of the same name. 
Most recently, Lily co-leads the US independent feature Rebuilding alongside Josh O'Connor,  which premiered at Sundance in 2025. Lily's work in Rebuilding has so far garnered her  masses of positive attention and glowing reviews, including "The stand out performance is  that of young Lily LaTorre (we may or may not have overheard a studio executive stating  that LaTorre's performance was the breakout performance of the festival, which I agree  with)...". 
She can be seen on Netflix in the lead role of Mia, opposite Sarah Snook, in the feature film  Run Rabbit Run for director Daina Reid. The film screened at Sundance, SxSW and Sydney  Film Festival before its release, and has attracted outstanding reviews for Lily's work. 
Lily also plays a key role in The Clearing for Disney+, from Director Jeffrey Walker. Here  she, yet again, very much holds her own on screen, alongside cast such as Miranda Otto and  Guy Pearce. 
Recognisable from countless high-profile commercials campaigns in Australia and the US, Lily  has also worked on a number of short films including the beautiful You and Me Before and  After (dir. Madeleine Gottlieb) and Jake's 7th Birthday (dir. Ariel Martin). 
Lily loves working alongside her brother Jack and spending time with her family and dog in  coastal country Australia, dancing, playing piano and singing.

CGA Rising Stars 2025: Tanzyn Crawford and Annie Murtagh-Monks.

Each year, the members of the CGA come together to identify a group of up to 10 extraordinary actors we believe have the potential to break out on the world stage; The CGA Rising Stars.On this episode, Casting Guild member Annie Murtagh-Monks and Tanzyn Crawford. 
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Tanzyn Crawford was born in Perth, Western Australia and raised between Australia and the US.
Mostly home schooled in her later years of education, Tanzyn went on to graduate from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (One Year Full Time Diploma of Screen Performance).
Tanzyn's break-out role came in 2023 from the Hulu/ Hello Sunshine production TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS where Tanzyn was cast as ‘Rae Kincade’, playing Katherine Hahn's daughter. Tanzyn’s performance was praised by critics with Screen Rant stating: “Tanzyn Crawford, is excellent, anchoring the series”, and Movieweb stating: “She breathes likability into a character who is battling her own vulnerabilities in intimate friendships and potential relationships and understanding her place in her family’s fractured fairytale.” The series was nominated for several awards.In 2024, Tanzyn led the Australian TV series Swift Street, where she starred opposite Cliff Curtis. Per The Guardian, Tanzyn's "roaring lead performance" was "as Elsie, a tenacious 21-year-old attempting to pay off debts accrued by her nogoodnik father Robert (CliffCurtis)." The crime drama streamed on SBS On Demand and was distributed by Fifth Season in Cannes.In June 2024, it was announced that Tanzyn was cast in HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms as Tanselle. The drama series is based on the novella The Hedge Knight from George R. R. Martin, the visionary whose A Song of Ice and Fire inspired Game of Thrones. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is set a century before the events of that series. George R R Martin announced on his blog that the series will be released on January 18 2026.Tanzyn has just wrapped working on Sherif’s Country – a series executive produced by Jerry Bruckheimer.

CGA Rising Stars 2025: Xavier Molyneux and Thea McLeod.

Each year, the members of the CGA come together to identify a group of up to 10 extraordinary actors we believe have the potential to break out on the world stage; The CGA Rising Stars.
On this episode, CGA President Thea McLeod interviews Xavier Molyneux. 
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Xavier Molyneux is an Australian actor who began his screen career playing Young Michael in the Netflix coming-of-age drama Take My Hand. He went on to star as Byron Stone for two years in the iconic TV series Neighbours, earning acclaim for his grounded and emotive performances. His breakout came when he landed the titular role in Bloodaxe, a major historical epic from Amazon MGM Studios. Currently filming in Ireland, Xavier leads the first season of this next chapter in Michael and Horatio Hirst’s acclaimed Viking saga. Passionate about meaningful storytelling, Xavier is dedicated to creating art that both entertains and moves audiences. Xavier is represented by Anthony Kidd at Benchmark Creative Management in Australia, and has added The Rose Group for management and WME as agents in the U.S.