Huge Casting Informatioin

June 24, 2000 -- With much of the principal photography of Star Wars: Episode II taking place in Sydney, Australia, Casting Director Robin Gurland has taken the opportunity to seek out some of the best acting talent that the country has to offer. While many of the names are currently unfamiliar to North American audiences, Star Wars fans will soon see them in action alongside Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman and Hayden Christensen.

Gurland commented, "It's been terribly exciting to discover the wealth of talent in Australia. I've received submissions from as far and wide as Perth and Sydney and have recently returned from a trip auditioning actors in Melbourne. In addition to auditions, I've also been attending the Sydney Film Festival and local theatre and found two of the current cast members from these excursions."

The Australian and New Zealand actors who have been cast to date include Jay Laga'aia, Leeanna Walsman, Rose Byrne, Veronica Segura, David Bowers, Matthew Rowan, and Daniel Logan.

Having taken on Xena: Warrior Princess as Draco, and watching the Sydney Harbour as Senior Constable Tommy Tavita in the Australian television series Water Rats, actor Jay Laga'aia should be well prepared to play a loyal security officer in Episode II. At 6' 1", Laga'aia brings a powerful physical presence. He has just completed shooting Street Legal, a New Zealand prime-time drama created specifically for the actor, and is currently working on a television project for Nine Network. The versatile actor's experience also spans film, musical theatre, musical composition and performance of the guitar and saxophone.

Filling the role of a skilled bounty hunter in Episode II is Leeanna Walsman. Casting Director Robin Gurland said, "The bounty hunter is an extremely physically oriented role. One evening I was at a play in Sydney and saw this actress hanging from a bar with one arm while delivering a stunning performance. It was amazing! Leeanna was just who I envisioned for the role. She has this wonderful pixyish, femme fatale look." The exciting actress has appeared in the television series Thunderstone and Heartbreak High and in the films Blackrock and Looking for Alibrandi. Following her performance in The Recruit, she is currently playing the lead in the successful La Dispute for the Sydney Theatre Company.

Selected to play a handmaiden in Episode II, Rose Byrne has appeared in numerous television series including Echo Point and as Carly in Heartbreak High. She played Alex in the critically acclaimed film Two Hands and will be featured in the soon-to-be-released My Mother Frank (also starring Sam Neill and Sinéad Cusack) and later this year as the lead in The Goddess of 1967.

After training and spending a few years on stage in the U.S., Veronica Segura moved to Australia and appeared in a number of independent films and the television mini-series Tribe. Her most recent work includes the films The Office, BPM and Mr. Drug Buddy. Segura will also play a handmaiden in Episode II.

With a background in the Australian Special Air Service, David Bowers has tackled a variety of physical roles on Australian television in Grass Roots, Above the Law, Water Rats, Wildside and episode one of Farscape (he will return in Farscape 11). In Episode II, Bowers will portray a high ranking Senate official.

Matthew Rowan has experience acting on stage including productions of The Would-Be Gentleman and Three Sisters, as well as in stand-up comedy. The 6' 4" multi-talented actor is a recent graduate of Charles Sturt University (Riverina). He has been selected to play an indulgent politician in Episode II.

Daniel Logan, a thirteen-year-old New Zealander is set to play a mysterious young boy in Episode II. A veteran of several television commercial shoots, the young actor has appeared on television in Hercules and Shortland Street, played the lead in the short film Falling Sparrows, and performed voice-over work for the animated series Tamota.

Robin Gurland states "I've just started to cast the roles in Australia. I look forward to continuing to meet and audition potential cast members."

BREAKING NEWS: Another talented Australian actor, Joel Edgerton, has just signed on to appear in Episode II. Details to follow...

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