Michelle Allen has lived and worked in the Canadian Film and Television Industry for more than forty years. She has been casting Principal roles for Film and Television since 1986.
Michelle had the honour of winning the 2009-2010 Artios Award (Casting Society of America Award) for Outstanding Achievement in Television Pilot Casting for the hit CBS show The Good Wife. She was also nominated for two awards in 2006: Outstanding Achievement in M.O.W. Casting for the highly acclaimed A & E special, Flight 93, and A Little Thing Called Murder starring Judy Davis for the Lifetime Channel.
In addition, Michelle has cast Zack Snyder-directed feature films Man of Steel, Watchmen and Sucker Punch as well as Final Destination Five, Red Riding Hood, Mystery Alaska, Cousins, The Accused (starring Jodie Foster) and Roxanne (starring Steve Martin and Daryl Hannah). Among her many episodic credits are Lost in Space, Fringe, Dead Like Me, The Twilight Zone and 21 Jump St. She has also cast more than sixty films for television.
Michelle is exceptionally proud and pleased to have worked with two time Academy Award winning Director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu on The Revenant. The film won 8 Oscars in 2016, among them Best Director for Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Best Motion Picture, and was Leonardo DiCaprio’s first Oscar win for Best Actor.
Michelle is dedicated to coaching, mentoring and supporting Canadian performers.
Publications
On Casting The Revenant
On Casting The Revenant
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Pictured: Michelle holding a photo of Melaw Nekehk'o, who she cast as Powaqa in The Revenant
Michelle In Theatre
Early on in her career Michelle produced and directed 6 plays for the Vancouver Fringe Festival, commencing 1986. Her first theatrical production was Talking With by Jane Martin and featured monologues by eight female performers. "It was received enthusiastically by audiences and went on to become one of the Pick of The Fringe titles that year."
Michelle’s early years as a performer and communicator
"Tutu Girl"
"The Communicator"