Casting Secrets: The Faces Behind Despite the Falling Snow
How Rebecca Ferguson, Charles Dance, and an all-star cast brought this Cold War romance to life
Casting might not be everything but it’s an awful lot…My job as a director is to try to think of how everything, from the set dressing to the costume to the colour palette might affect each frame of the film, and the audience’s response. But all of that always, for me, comes second to the actors and their performances. That’s what people watch a movie to see, and along with the script, its can make or break a story.
Rebecca Ferguson: Mastering Dual Roles
For the lead role of Katya, I needed to find an actress who could embody an Ingrid Bergman-style feel. This is a character who rarely talks about herself, who’s a spy in life and death situations, but who also is a young woman with feelings that she can’t always control. When our casting director, Kelly Hendry, suggested Rebecca Ferguson, I looked up her work and Kelly set up a lunch.
It went well. I’d seen Rebecca’s work and knew she could act. Then it really becomes about communication, and we hit it off. Under pressure, on set, when time is at a premium, the trust between a director and actor is key, at least for me.
On top of that, Rebecca had to play two roles, in different time periods. We worked to create distinct personalities for Katya and Lauren, altering her posture, voice, and movements to ensure each character felt authentic and separate. Katya has the submissiveness of a 1950s woman, but her nerves are like steel - but the work costs her a lot.
"There was something quite fascinating about portraying these two women. Katya is a shadow, a spy, and there’s an elegance in her silence. Lauren, on the other hand, is completely driven, almost aggressively searching for the truth." — Rebecca Ferguson, HeyUGuys Exclusive Interview
Did You Know? Working with Rebecca, using fewer words helped :) Not the easiest for a novelist. I remember explaining something, a moment in a scene for a few minutes, and Rebecca asked, ‘If it was a dance, what would it be?’
‘A tango,’ I replied. She took hold of me and demonstrated the energy. And she nailed the scene.
Rebecca Ferguson on Working with Shamim:
Sam Reid: Embodying Alexander Ivanov
Alexander Ivanov is an idealistic young politician envisioning a better future for the Soviet Union.
Casting Alexander required an actor who could balance youthful passion with depth and sincerity. Sam Reid brought an intense, gently quality to Alexander's emotional journey.
Did You Know? To authentically represent Alexander, Sam immersed himself in the historical context of the era, studying Soviet history and working with dialect coaches to perfect his accent. He even adjusted his physicality, adopting a more formal posture to reflect Alexander's disciplined upbringing and political stature.
Sam Reid on the Story:
Charles Dance: The Seasoned Alexander
If Sam Reid’s Alexander is young, hopeful, and in love, Charles Dance’s portrayal of the older Alexander in the 1990s is a man haunted by regret. The role required someone with a powerful presence, an actor who could carry decades of sorrow in a single glance.
Enter Charles Dance. I’d grown up watching Charles’s work and was actually a little nervous to work with him. But we hit it off, and Charles was always super prepared, with excellent questions and fully in command of the script. Total professional, of course.
Did You Know? Charles broke all our hearts with the scene when he reads Katya’s letter - and cries.
Charles Dance on his Role:
Oliver Jackson-Cohen: The Complex Misha
Misha, Alexander’s best friend, is one of the most complicated characters in the film. While he is devoted to Alexander, his best friend, he is also hiding his true work - as a spy for the Americans.
Oliver Jackson-Cohen, portrayed him as both a warm confidante and a man tormented by his own secrets and lies.
Did You Know? Oliver started out behind the scenes working with Anthony Head who played his older self on this film. He remembered Anthony as a lovely presence on set - luckily!
Oliver Jackson-Cohen on Misha:
Antje Traue: The Determined Marina
In the 1990s timeline, Lauren’s investigation into her aunt’s past leads her to Marina, a journalist determined to uncover long-buried secrets. Antje Traue, known for her roles in Man of Steel and Pandorum, took on this role with fierce determination.
Marina navigates the shifting political landscape of post-Soviet Russia. She is tough, unyielding, and relentless in her search for the truth. But the truth is more personal to her than we realise at the start…
Did You Know? Antje joined the cast with just a few days to go before principal photography began - but she immersed herself fast and made the role her own.
Antje Traue on Shamim as a Director:
I look forward to sharing more behind-the-scenes stories and insights in future newsletters. Thank you for joining me on this journey.
In the meantime, I’m thrilled that we have randomly selected winners for a signed copy of Despite the Falling Snow, the novel. This is a brand new, movie edition. Here are the winners:
Announcement of Signed Copy Winners of Despite the Falling Snow
Paid Subscriber Winners:
magdalena.fukanova@gmail.com
vgmtrix@gmail.com
Free Subscriber Winner:
snicholson64@yahoo.com
Congratulations! 🎉 We’ll be reaching out via email shortly to arrange delivery.
A huge thank you to everyone who participated! Your support means the world, and we’re already thinking about our next exclusive giveaway. Stay tuned!
In the meantime, keep an eye out for more behind-the-scenes stories, creative insights, and special content coming your way soon.
With love and gratitude,
Shamim Sarif
As a paid subscriber, you’ll get access to:
Exclusive content and behind-the-scenes insights
Competitions and prize draws, including:
Signed books from Shamim’s collection: I Can’t Think Straight, The World Unseen, Despite the Falling Snow, The Athena Protocol, The Shadow Mission
Signed Cast & Crew Hardback Book from Despite the Falling Snow
Exclusive Movie Memorabilia