The search is on to find two young unknowns to take leading roles in a new screen version of Wuthering Heights. Casting director Rob Earnshaw tells Steve Pratt about the talent search for find Yorkshire’s Cathy and Heathcliff.

CASTING director Rob Earnshaw was pleased to find young hopefuls queuing to audition for the role of young Cathy in the latest screen version of Emily Bronte’s classic Yorkshire story Wuthering Heights.

But his pleasure turned to despair when he studied them. “We are looking for slim, blonde, blue-eyed girls – and these were some of the biggest girls I’ve seen – with brown hair,” he says.

Such are the perils of open casting calls. He’s also seeking someone to play young Heathcliff, the object of Cathy’s desire. Hopefully, by the time auditions reach York tomorrow, those attending will have read the requirements carefully, although people can be blind when potential stardom is at stake.

The thought of yet another film of Bronte’s tale of possessive love against the background of the rugged Yorkshire moors may not appeal to everyone, but these casting calls offer a rare chance for unknowns to grab starring roles.

It’s something that has worked before for Andrea Arnold, who is at the helm of the new Wuthering Heights. Katie Jarvis, the muchpraised star of gritty drama Fish Tank, was discovered by a talent scout who witnessed her arguing with her boyfriend at a railway station and invited her to audition. She was only 18 and had never acted before.

Earnshaw is a former actor from the North- East, whose internet company The Casting Website specialises in locating young actors for television, film and theatre.

He’s organised open casting calls in three Yorkshire locations –York follows similar days in Leeds and Sheffield – for Wuthering Heights casting director Gail Stevens, who worked on the Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire, to audition local talent.

“I’m a big believer in open casting calls because young people can come and show us what they can do, regardless of previous experience, or their social and ethnic background,”

says Earnshaw.

Seeing a lot of people, rather than a select few, gives a better chance of discovering the person you want, he feels.

The role of Cathy has been played by actresses as diverse as Merle Oberon, in the Thirties’ Hollywood version, to French actress Juliette Binoche in a 1992 film. The most recent Cathy was Stockton-born Charlotte Riley, in two-part film shown on ITV last year.

Past Heathcliffs have included former James Bond Timothy Dalton, Laurence Olivier, Ralph Fiennes and Tom Hardy.

Arnold, who took over the Wuthering Heights film after two other directors dropped out, has said that Bronte’s romantic drama is the only book she’d want to film “because of the passionate, impossible love story at its centre and its elements of class divide”.

She’s obviously determined to cast younger actors as the open call is looking for a Cathy and Heathcliff in the 14 to 21 age range.

“Slim, pale and sullen, with a feisty quality about her,” is the description of Cathy. As for Heathcliff, he would be “real, rugged and gritty.

Romany traveller/Italian/Indian or mixed race look”. Both performers should have Yorkshire accents. What’s not required is previous acting experience.

“A lot of people are put off because they think they’re going to have to learn a script on the day, but I want to stress that’s not the case,”

says Earnshaw.

“They will chat with the casting director and myself. And if we like the look of them we’ll bring them back in groups for some improvisation, a bit of fun and games.

“It’s not like The X Factor, where you are ripped to shreds if you don’t do well. Basically, they can come along, have a laugh and find out what it’s all about. If they look good on the day we will get a video clip of them, then Andrea will look, and those she likes will be asked back for a recall.”

EARNSHAW, who comes from Newcastle, started out as an actor but quit because, as he puts it, “I was s*** at it”.

“I decided what I wanted to do was help other young actors get into the industry, regardless of their social and ethnic background or where they live in the UK. As we’re an internet-based company, anyone can contact us.”

Among the theatre shows the company is currently casting are The Sound Of Music, Oliver!, Les Miserables and Fame The Musical.

They’re also on the lookout for someone to play a young Boy George in a film about the Culture Club singer.

The risk with open calls, of course, is that the organisers have no idea how many – if any – will turn up. “Sometimes hundreds come, sometimes no one turns up. But we just want to see as many as possible,” says Earnshaw.

■ Arnold’s Wuthering Heights is to begin eight weeks filming on location in Yorkshire, in April.

■ Auditions are being held at the Royal York Hotel, Station Road, York, tomorrow, at 10.30am for 14 to 16-year-olds and at 2.30pm for 17 to 21-year-olds.