Hilary Linstead, ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’ Casting Director, and Producer, Dies at 83
18.08.2022 - 17:25
/ variety.com
Naman Ramachandran Hilary Linstead, casting director, agent and film and stage producer died on Aug. 6 after contracting a form of leukaemia.
She was 83.Described as a “force of nature” by her friends and colleagues, Linstead nurtured and promoted some of Australia’s most famous artistic talents, including directors such as John Bell, Baz Luhrmann, Gillian Armstrong, Jim Sharman, Jane Campion and Neil Armfield, and many writers, designers, composers, cinematographers, choreographers, comedians and performers. Born in London in 1938, and educated at Cheltenham Ladies College, Linstead went to Australia as a professional actor, as a member of an English touring company.
After realizing that acting was not for her, Linstead found her metier as a casting director and worked in an advertising company and at International Casting Services representing actresses. In 1962 she married Leon Stemler.
The turning point in her career came when she joined Liz Mullinar to found M&L Casting Consultants, which became an influential company that cast stage productions such as “Rocky Horror Show” and “Jesus Christ Superstar” and many Australian film classics, including “Picnic at Hanging Rock,” “My Brilliant Career” and “Sunday Too Far Away.”In 1973 Linstead started the first Australian agency representing writers, directors, composers, choreographers, and cinematographers. She also began producing and an early success was Steve J.
Spears play “The Elocution of Benjamin Franklin,” a daring play for the time, with a gay character in the lead. In 1981, Linstead helped director Gillian Armstrong produce her seminal documentary about teenage girls, “14’s Good, 18’s Better.” A year later she packaged and produced her first feature film,
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