May 27--The local rapper/dietitian wasn't right for the role she was auditioning for -- "Empire's" glamorous Tiana -- and she had zero professional acting experience.
But casting director Claire Simon says she saw talent, confidence and personality to spare. Simon asked the rapper, Ta'Rhonda Jones, to come back and try out for the role of Porsha, music mogul Cookie Lyon's sassy assistant. Sure enough, this time the part and the player were a perfect match.
"Oh, my God, there were fireworks going off in my brain when she was reading," Simon says of Jones, who went on to become a fan favorite on Fox's hit drama. "My head was going to blow off she was so good. I almost interrupted her during the audition so I could run and call ('Empire' co-creator) Lee Daniels."
Simon, who has cast thousands of Chicago-area actors in TV shows such as "Chicago P.D.," "Chicago Fire" and "Empire" and movies such as "Divergent," "Contagion" and "School of Rock," has been scouring the Midwest for top talent for 19 years now. Her Lincoln Park agency, Simon Casting, also casts commercials and regional theater.
Asked what she does when she's not working, Simon, who lives in Wheaton with her husband, Andrew Lasser, and the youngest of their three children, just laughs.
"When would that be? I always have my eyes peeled for interesting people."
Simon began her career as a Chicago actress, then worked as a talent agent for five years before turning to casting. We caught up with her at her office, where strings of white lights dangle from an archway and whimsical 3-D letters spell out, "We are on your side."
The following is an edited transcript.
Q: So you wanted to be an actress?
A: I wanted it so badly and I was so passionate about it and I plugged away for 10 years and got things here and there. After I had my (first) daughter I was like, "I'm not very good at waiting for people to choose me." As an actress you wait for people to choose you all the time. It's easy to say, "Don't take it personally. It's a business." It is. But it can beat you down. And also I like tape, and staplers, and getting off at five is really fun, so I became an agent and I loved that. Loved it. I had a real passion for being an agent because it's thrilling to bust down doors for actors you really believe in.
Q: What was your first big project as a casting director?
A: I would say (the John Cusack movie) "High Fidelity." I did Chicago casting. It was ridiculously exciting. You felt like a little kid on Christmas morning every single day. To have all the best actors in Chicago come in and read for me! When I first started casting and I'd bring Amy Morton in or David Pasquesi, I kind of couldn't talk. Every time David Pasquesi came in my office and we'd read something funny, I couldn't stop geeking out and smiling. I just saw them through the eyes I saw them through when I was an actor.
Q: Do you meet famous people?
A: For the most part, when those huge projects come, those people are already cast. John Cusack didn't come and hang out at my office or anything -- (although) he would have been welcome! When I did (the sitcom) "What About Joan?" (Joan Cusack) came and read for a couple people (who were being considered), so that was fun. It was a total thrill to work with Lee Daniels. A lot of the time the writers and the directors are the stars I get excited about. We were like "Shut up! Lee Daniels is going to be in our office?" I have so much respect for him.
Q: And things are working out pretty well for Ta'Rhonda Jones.
A: She would call me and say, "Oh, my God, Jennifer Hudson (who was on "Empire"), asked to meet me!" Timbaland called her. It's almost like she was just exactly where she was supposed to be because the whole universe just unfolded for her.
Q: Is there a part of your job that you don't like?
A: The only part I can think of that made me feel bad was when my kids were small, not being with them all the time. When I went to college, I was going to have a career, and I was not going to take care of some man and some children my whole life and disappear. But then you have kids and nothing prepares you for how much you're in love with them. I was lucky I was doing something I absolutely love, but there were plenty of nights where we'd be working on a film or something and I'd be coming home at 8 or 9 and I would be really weepy in the car.
Q: What helped?
A: I included (my kids) a lot. Whenever I could bring them with me (I would). Whenever I would go see regional theater to see the shows I cast, I would take one kid. It was really funny. My son always wanted to go. He wanted to go on the plane. He wanted to go on the adventure. And then we'd go see the show and before the intermission he'd be like, "Can we go now?" All he wanted to do was eat macaroni and cheese in the hotel room! But those memories are amazing.
Q: Do you have any advice for women who are trying to juggle career and motherhood?
A: My advice would be to do what you love and surround yourself with people who think what you're doing is fabulous, and include your kids as much as you can in all that joy.
Q: Do you have any hobbies?
A: Horseback riding. I have a horse named Hank.
Q: Have you always ridden?
A: I always wanted to. I had a lot of invisible horses when I was young. (Laughs.) There were invisible horses named Butterfly. And my husband, Andrew, for one of my big birthdays got me horseback riding lessons, so I've probably been riding for six years. I'm a beginner, but I have a bunch of cowboy friends that I ride with. They're really fun.
nschoenberg@tribpub.com
