Reel Talk: Bonnie Zane Talks Casting Suits And Sharing A Name With Meghan Markle
Have you ever wondered how Gabriel Macht became the infamous Harvey Spector? Casting can truly make or break a show’s success, and Bonnie Zane has an eye for finding incredible talent. Zane is the mastermind behind casting for so many beloved shows like Suits, Ed, Sports Night, and many more. Reel Talk’s Ally Bonsall sat down with Zane at the ATX TV Festival to chat about the world of casting and her experience building the iconic cast that made Suits the worldwide sensation it is today.
Film school lets aspiring filmmakers dive into courses covering producing, cinematography, editing, screenwriting, and casting. However, that wasn’t always the case for aspiring casting directors. “I’ve been doing this for a very long time. Now, there’s actually courses at film school that you can take, but back then, you kind of fell into it.” Her sister, Debra Zane, who is also a casting director, helped Zane fall into this world by convincing her to take her first casting job.
In a world of TikTok fan casting, everyone has opinions of who should play beloved characters these days. Zane noted that having the ability to imagine certain actors portraying roles is crucial to discovering the perfect fit for each character. “Let’s say you gave me a script for a television pilot; I do a quick read first just to get a vibe. The second read is when I write down every character’s name, and I do my own kind of list of who’s who, and then the third pass is when I start filling it in.” It’s reminiscent of a puzzle piece, matching talent to characters and uncovering the perfect picture for the project.
Zane even poked some fun at a Hollywood misconception, “The joke in the business is that casting is everyone’s second job on the set. Everyone thinks they can do it. ‘Oh, god’ is what I say!” Think of all the times you’ve gone to the theater to see your favorite book become a film. Isn’t it gut-wrenching when the actor chosen for the role just doesn’t fit? It’s essential that casting directors recognize when someone is perfect for a role but also when someone just doesn’t fit. Zane explained, “At the heart of it, it’s very creative, obviously.” She continued, “It’s creative and gut instinct.”
When it comes to discovering talent, Zane noted that the fantasy of overnight discoveries isn’t the norm. “They’re not always discoveries. To the public, they might be, but I’ve been kicking people around for years trying to find them work.” Casting directors almost serve as another agent who can advocate for untapped talent to finally step into the spotlight. “One of my favorite discoveries was when I was casting a television series called Ed, and it was Justin Long right out of college.” She continued, “I gave his audition to my sister for Galaxy Quest, so we got him his first television and his first film jobs together at the same time.”
Would you believe us if we told you Patrick J. Adams and Macht never chemistry read? It’s true! Zane, the mastermind behind the early days of searching for Harvey, Mike, and Rachel, shares how she found the right people to step into their perfectly tailored suits, or, in Mike’s case, a suit that was falling apart before Harvey came along! “Patrick was the first person we cast on the show, and my former business partner Gayle Pillsbury knew and loved him.” She continued, “The timing was perfect because he had just lost a job—it’s kind of a famous story for him—and he was kind of in that Mike Ross ‘I’ll do anything for a job’ mode. And he brought that energy into his audition!”
Can you imagine anyone else playing Harvey Spector? Zane remembers when Macht read for Harvey, and everything fell into place. “He just checked every box. It wasn't even about the performance; it was about what he embodied.” She even noted that if any Suits actor was least like their character, it’s ironically Macht. “He could not be more different than Harvey.” Of course, recognition is owed to Macht for his ability to transform into Harvey in the audition room. Still, praise is deserved for Zane, who saw his potential to be the iconic character.
When asked if the name of Meghan Markle’s Suits character, Rachel Zane, intentionally shares her last name, Zane playfully gushed about the easter egg. “Yes. It made my parents so happy! It was hilarious.” She joked, “I said to her when she (Markle) got engaged, ‘You know, I was on the homecoming court at Miami Beach High School so does that count as royalty? Otherwise, you’re the first Zane that’s royal.’”
Above it all, Zane mentioned how amazing it is to witness the success of talent she’s worked with. She noted, “For me, it’s my love for the person. It comes from ‘Oh, that person deserves that, and I love that person.’” It's casting directors like Bonnie Zane who champion talent — regardless of their resumes—who contribute to some of the best film and television projects we've ever seen.
