[[{“value”:”
If Vellani almost seemed to come out of thin air, it’s because she sort of did, at least so far as Hollywood is concerned. Where Steinfeld was already an Oscar-nominated actor by the time she turned 15 and Gomez had starred in Netflix’s short-lived but treasured “Baby-Sitters Club” series right before joining the MCU, Vellani’s early acting experience was limited pretty much exclusively to high school theater. In fact, as noted in a 2022 article by Marie Claire, it was only sheer luck that Marvel Studios found Vellani at all, as she just so happened to learn about the auditions for “Ms. Marvel” though something an acquaintance of her aunt’s saw on WhatsApp.
Due to the randomness of it all, Vellani initially assumed the whole thing had to be a hoax. She also spoke highly of the way Finn guided her through the audition process after she discovered it was legit:
“I honestly think [Finn] took a risk hiring me. And she looked out for me in a way that I didn’t think was normal for most casting directors […] She would literally call me and run lines with me and give me notes [before auditions] […] Even after I got the part, I was dealing with so much imposter syndrome, and her advice is what grounded me and allowed me to trust my instincts.”
For all the credit that the MCU’s actors deserve, Vellani’s comments are a testament to the equally vital role Finn has played in transforming the franchise into the behemoth that it is (and further proof that casting directors, in general, deserve their newly unveiled Oscar category). By going all-out to help Vellani succeed, she may have even given Marvel Studios the very thing it needs to right this ship going forward.
“}]] The MCU has always had great casting, but it was largely a matter of luck that led to Iman Vellani auditioning for Ms. Marvel. Read More