Shakyra Dowling
Shakyra Dowling is a London based casting director renowned for her commitment to championing emerging and diverse talent. With a career spanning over a decade, she has significantly contributed to both independent British cinema and international co- productions. Her casting expertise has been integral to projects that have garnered nominations and accolades at prestigious platforms such as the BAFTAs, BIFAs, Berlinale,Sundance, and TIFF. She has also been recognised with multiple nominations and wins from the Casting Society of America’s Artios Awards, underscoring her influence within the global industry.
Notable work includes Hammarskjöld: Fight for Peace (2023), a Swedish biopic directed by Per Fly and featuring Mikael Persbrandt. She also cast Wolf (2021), directed by Nathalie Biancheri, with George MacKay, Lily-Rose Depp and Paddy Considine and soon to be released Desperate Journey, directed by Annabel Jankel (Tell it to the Bees), featuring Til Schweiger, Clara Rugaard and Sienna Guillory.
Shakyra recently collaborated with Peter Greenaway on his latest feature Lucca Mortis, casting Dustin Hoffman and Helen Hunt.
A standout recent success is Last Swim, the debut feature by Sasha Nathwani, which premiered at Berlinale 2024 and won the prestigious Crystal Bear. Shakyra cast Narges Rashidi, Solly McLeod, Jay Lycurgo and introduced breakout newcomer Deba Hekmat in her screen debut.
She recently finished working on Gandhi Before India, a major TV series filming across the UK and India, with a huge cast including Tom Felton and James Murray. Shakyra’s dedication to storytelling and her keen eye for talent continue to shape bold, compelling narratives across film and television.
