When Season 2 of “The Diplomat” on Netflix debuts on October 31, fans can expect more political drama and excitement. Less than two weeks after its April 2023 premiere, the popular series, which starred Keri Russell, Rufus Sewell, and David Gyasi, was revived.
Season 1 garnered multiple accolades, including a Golden Globe nomination for best drama series and Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for Russell’s performance.
What is required to compete against this incredibly brilliant cast? We examine what it takes to get a part on “The Diplomat” in our comprehensive guide, which also offers advice from the A-list stars of the show on how to ace the audition process.
What does “The Diplomat” entail?
In the political thriller by Debora Cahn, Russell plays Kate Wyler, a U.S. diplomat who is about to take up her new role as ambassador to Afghanistan. However, when a British aircraft carrier is attacked off the coast of Iran, her preparations are completely upended.
U.S. President William Rayburn (played by Michael McKean) then cancels Kate’s travel to Kabul, telling her that she will be reassigned as the ambassador to the United Kingdom in the midst of the unrest.
Despite her lack of interest in fostering the vital U.S.-U.K. partnership, Kate becomes committed in identifying the perpetrator of the horrific attack in the hopes of averting a full-scale conflict. In addition to dealing with this possible global emergency, Kate also has to try to save her marriage—or not—to her husband, fellow ambassador Hal (Sewell). But as Kate grows closer to the truth, will she be able to save her world and the globe from being on the verge of war?
Who makes up “The Diplomat”‘s cast?
Season 1 of “The Diplomat” on Netflix included:
- As Ambassador Kate Wyler, Keri Russell
- Hal Wyler, played by Rufus Sewell.
- Austin Dennison as Foreign Secretary David Gyasi
- Eidra Park, played by Ali Ahn
- As Prime Minister Nicol Trowbridge of the United Kingdom, Rory Kinnear
- Stuart Heyford, played by Ato Essandoh
- Margaret Roylin, portrayed by Celia Imrie
- Sandoval Miguel as Secretary of State Ganon, Miguel
- Billie Appiah, played by Nana Mensah
- Michael McKean as William Rayburn, President of the United States
- Cecilia Dennison, played by T’Nia Miller.
Academy Award winner Allison Janney will debut as US vice president Grace Penn in Season 2.
Who are “The Diplomat” casting directors?
Casting directors for Season 1 of “The Diplomat” were Lucinda Syson (“Wonder Woman,” “The Sandman”), Natasha Vincent (“The Boys in the Boat,” “The Alienist”), and Julie Schubert (“House of Cards,” “Manifest”).
“Acting is very hard work and very vulnerable,” Syson told Casting Networks. Few occupations allow you to be flawless and give your everything, but you still lose the job because someone else is a better fit.
Casting directors understand how difficult that may be. It’s very unfortunate that we have to make a final decision when there are so many amazing actors and performances.
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Additionally, you will have to make your own decisions if you wish to win Schubert over. “Use your resources to make decisions. Additionally, be specific. Asking what I’m looking for at the beginning of an audition is the quickest way to lose me.
Schubert told NYCastings, “I’m searching for someone who maximizes the material in their hands.” Ultimately, I don’t want to micromanage a performance in which the actor doesn’t express their own opinions. The fun of acting is making those own decisions and offering a distinct viewpoint, but I’ll assist in reshaping an audition to get it where the creatives want it.
When casting, it’s uncommon to land your first choice leads, but Schubert did exactly that on “The Diplomat,” as Russell and Sewell were her first choices from the beginning, as she told The Wrap. Schubert revealed, “Keri Russell was on the very first list.”
She is genuinely among the kindest people you will ever encounter in your life. And among the most diligent individuals you will encounter in your lifetime. She is incredibly happy from head to toe.
Schubert was also very complimentary of Sewell. She added, “Rufus was also number one on the list,” after casting him in “Kaleidoscope” on Netflix. The thing about Rufus that I believe many people haven’t really encountered is his sense of humor. So cleverly humorous.
And you had a glimpse of it when he appeared as a guest on Season 2 of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” He’s quite good at being a villain; he’s always kind of awful. However, he exudes such charisma.
McKean was reportedly Schubert’s initial choice to play President Rayburn, but the selection of the “Laverne & Shirley” star took some time because of the divergent views on the role. We all had different opinions about what President Rayburn was supposed to be, in my opinion.
And I recall sending out an email to everyone asking, “What are your thoughts on Michael McKean?” Schubert uttered those words. After that, the discussions went on and on. Furthermore, Rayburn is a figure that sort of comes and goes throughout the narrative, despite being crucial to it. After two months or so, someone asked, “What about Michael McKean?” and I said, “That’s a great idea, let’s do it.”
The audition space, which Schubert wants to make “warm and welcoming,” is always an option for performers whose current body of work does not yet have CDs demanding their involvement, she told NYCastings.
“An actor can only perform at their peak when they are at ease. Making ensuring kids have a judgment-free environment in which to play, make decisions, and engage in their favorite activities is also a part of my work, she added. We’ll talk for a little while and try to lighten the mood if an actor enters and I can see they’re anxious or unprepared.
I usually crack one of my many terrible dad jokes when an actor enters the room looking really nervous and trying very hard not to make a mistake. It appears suddenly. It kind of knocks you out of your head because it’s so strange, perplexing, and unrelated to anything right now.
To make sure the actor is prepared to go, she continued, “I try to read the room and provide what I think will be most helpful in the moment.” However, I usually advise performers who are nervous to just say, ‘Fuck it,’ and leave the room before entering any audition room.
There’s something about that sentence that just allows you to let loose, although I’m not sure what it is. Before any meeting that makes me anxious, I do this. I also get anxious.
When does “The Diplomat” Season 3 filming begin?
Season 2 of “The Diplomat” began filming in June 2024, and Season 3 already wrapped up in September, according to What’s on Netflix. For updates on the fate of Season 4, stay tuned to this website!
Where are casting calls and auditions for “The Diplomat” held?
As of right now, “The Diplomat” has no open casting calls.
What are the top audition strategies to get a part on “The Diplomat”?
Identify your faults as strengths. Russell has acknowledged that nerves will always be a part of her approach, even if she once called the auditioning process “the most soul-stealing experience of my lifetime” and told us that she “still gets so unbelievably nervous that it sort of stuns me from doing anything.”
“I look for a single moment where I can connect.” Only one. She clarified, “I don’t have to find every moment.” And because I’ve been in the room long enough to witness the process—which is frequently not about the flawless read—I stopped punishing myself for it.
Simply said, it fits. Perhaps that person’s voice complements that one. It’s not always about who’s prepared or the best actor. You must take some time for yourself. You enter, give it your best effort, and then leave it alone. I think it’s acceptable to feel anxious. It demonstrates your concern. You don’t care if you’re not anxious.
Accept the peculiar aspects of yourself. Although Sewell acknowledges that a lot has changed for actors since he began his career in the 1990s, his secret piece of advice is still to be authentic.
“Actors face a variety of issues these days, but I believe the only thing I could ever say is what I would always tell young actors: Try to hold onto everything that you believe makes you strange, wrong, and different from other people, because that is the core of who you are,” he said.
“And I think it’s really easy to sort of compare your insides to other people’s outsides, but the best thing about you is actually everything that makes you the wrong shape to fit into what you see as a whole. That is unquestionably true for performers, and I believe it to be true for most individuals.
Keep your cool. Although McKean is most recognized for his humorous roles in “Laverne & Shirley” and “This Is Spinal Tap” from 1984, he is also aware that auditions are serious business. He therefore encourages actors to have fun while maintaining composure under pressure.
“There’s absolutely nothing to be afraid of if you’re nervous during an interview because the worst thing they could do to you is not give you the part.
He informed the Auditions, “And guess what? You already don’t have the part.” “That ship has sailed since you entered without the part; just enter and enjoy yourself to the fullest.”
Avoid attempting to impress others. Janney used to approach the dreadful audition process in the same way that many performers do: they go into the audition room knowing what the CDs want to see.
She admitted to us that she “became overly anxious for the procedure, and consequently, I didn’t feel I did my best and I’d come out and cry.” Janney didn’t realize that being authentic was essential to get a job until she eventually started to take charge of her auditions.
“I just started being myself, being comfortable, and stopped trying to be who I thought they wanted me to be in the audition,” Janney said. “Letting go of trying to please them is the real trick when it comes to auditioning.” Personalize it. It took me a while to figure it out.
Be supportive. The audition room is not where all opportunities begin. Sometimes you have to be in the right place at the right time, which involves making connections in any manner you can, in order to get your foot in the door.
“Your network of friends will be more significant to you and your career than anyone else,” Mensah said. Go to the dilapidated black box theater on Avenue D to attend your friend’s solo performance.
Offer to attend a reading or read a friend’s play, and if they ask, send notes. Wait in line to see a friend’s Off-Broadway debut, and at the stage entrance, give them bodega flowers. Put out as much positive energy as you can because this is a really difficult job that can be filled with negativity. It comes around, I promise.
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