Hamilton Hodell
A top London agency with strong film, TV, and theatre divisions
Overview
Hamilton Hodell is a prominent London-based talent agency with a strong reputation in film, television, and theatre, representing a diverse roster of actors at various career stages from emerging talent fresh out of leading drama schools to established names with decades of high-profile credits. The agency has positioned itself as one of the most important mid-to-upper tier agencies in London, occupying a strategic space between the elite powerhouses like Curtis Brown and United Agents and the smaller boutique operations that serve the early-career market. Hamilton Hodell has developed a particularly strong reputation for championing diverse voices and stories, actively seeking to represent talent that reflects the breadth of contemporary British society rather than defaulting to traditional casting patterns. Their commitment to diversity is not merely aspirational but reflected in tangible roster composition and submission practices that have earned respect from casting directors who are themselves working to diversify the productions they cast.
Hamilton Hodell's clients are regularly cast in major BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky, and Netflix productions, as well as West End, National Theatre, and regional theatre productions that span the full range of British stage work. The agency's strength lies in their ability to build sustainable careers for actors who are on the rise — identifying talented performers at a critical career inflection point and providing the strategic representation, casting director relationships, and industry credibility needed to convert potential into consistent booking momentum. What distinguishes Hamilton Hodell from agencies of similar size is the genuine investment in each client's development trajectory, with agents who take pride in being part of the career story rather than simply processing auditions. For many actors, Hamilton Hodell represents the ideal launching pad — an agency with sufficient industry weight to open doors at the highest level while maintaining the personal attention that the largest agencies often struggle to provide.
How It Works
Hamilton Hodell accepts submissions from actors with professional training and credits, and they have a dedicated team of agents who specialize in different areas of the industry including film, television, and theatre, ensuring that each submission is handled by someone with deep expertise in the relevant sector. The agency reviews submissions on a rolling basis and evaluates potential clients based on training quality, existing credits, marketability, and how well the applicant would complement the existing roster without creating excessive internal competition. A strong showreel demonstrating range across both theatrical and screen work significantly strengthens any submission, as does a Spotlight profile that is current, well-organized, and accurately reflects your casting types. The agency is more accessible than the top-tier powerhouses while maintaining professional standards that ensure every represented actor meets the quality threshold that casting directors expect from Hamilton Hodell submissions.
Once represented, Hamilton Hodell clients benefit from the specialized agent structure that ensures each area of their career receives expert attention and targeted submissions through both Spotlight and direct relationships with casting directors. The agency's approach balances proactive career strategy with responsive submission activity, meaning agents both pursue specific opportunities they identify as strong fits and respond to incoming casting briefs with well-matched talent. Hamilton Hodell's reputation with casting directors means their submissions receive genuine consideration, and the agency's track record of developing emerging actors into bankable stars provides credibility that benefits everyone on the roster. The mix of established and emerging talent creates an internal ecosystem where younger actors benefit from the agency's relationships built through their more prominent clients, while the energy and fresh talent of newer signings keeps the agency's reputation for discovery and development current.
Who Uses It
Hamilton Hodell's roster reflects a deliberate commitment to diversity across ethnicity, age, gender, disability status, and casting type, creating a talent pool that serves the increasingly diverse production landscape of contemporary British entertainment. The mix of career stages — from recently signed drama school graduates to mid-career professionals to established industry veterans — creates a supportive ecosystem where actors at different points in their careers coexist and benefit from the agency's accumulated relationships and reputation. The agency particularly attracts actors who are serious about building long-term careers and who understand that sustainable success requires patient career development alongside the excitement of individual bookings. Performers who appreciate an agency that values artistic merit alongside commercial viability find Hamilton Hodell's balanced approach to career guidance particularly compatible with their own professional values.
Pricing & Plans
Representation at Hamilton Hodell is commission-based with no fees for joining the agency, maintaining profiles, or accessing any agency services — the commission-only model ensures the agency's income is directly tied to their clients' booking success. Commission percentages are agreed upon individually and are consistent with UK industry norms, typically ranging from 10-12% for theatrical work to up to 20% for commercial engagements, though specific rates are negotiated based on career stage and booking categories. There are no hidden costs, mandatory workshops, headshot packages, or administrative fees of any kind, and the transparent financial relationship is a cornerstone of the agency's professional approach. The agency's ability to negotiate competitive fees for their clients, backed by their industry reputation and casting director relationships, means the commission represents genuine value — represented actors frequently earn more through Hamilton Hodell's advocacy than they would through lesser-known agencies, even accounting for the commission percentage.
Pros & Cons
What's Great
Hamilton Hodell's strategic position between the elite powerhouses and smaller boutique agencies provides a genuine advantage — sufficient industry weight and casting director relationships to compete for the highest-profile opportunities while maintaining the personal attention that the largest agencies often sacrifice for scale. The commitment to diversity creates a competitive edge as the British entertainment industry actively seeks to better represent the UK's multicultural society, positioning Hamilton Hodell clients favorably for the increasing number of projects prioritizing inclusive casting. The mix of emerging and established talent creates mutual benefit — newer actors gain access to relationships built by established clients, while the agency's reputation for discovering fresh talent keeps casting directors engaged and interested. The specialized agent structure ensures expert handling across different sectors of the industry rather than generic representation. The agency's track record of developing careers from early-stage to prominence demonstrates a genuine capability for long-term career building.
What Could Be Better
While Hamilton Hodell carries significant industry credibility, the agency does not quite match the prestige and negotiating leverage of the absolute top-tier firms like Curtis Brown, United Agents, or Independent Talent Group, which may limit access to certain ultra-high-profile projects where the largest agencies have long-established relationships. The roster's size, while smaller than the major agencies, is large enough that internal competition for certain types of roles is inevitable, and emerging actors may find themselves competing with more established roster-mates for the same opportunities. The agency's strength in the mid-career development space means that actors who have already achieved major star status may find their needs better served by agencies with more established infrastructure for managing A-list careers and complex international schedules. Actors seeking exclusively boutique, family-style representation may find Hamilton Hodell's structure more formal than the smallest agencies where every client knows their agent personally. The London-centric focus, while standard for major UK agencies, may limit utility for actors based outside the capital.
Our Recommendation
Hamilton Hodell is well suited for trained actors at the early-to-mid career stage who have built genuine momentum and need an agency with the industry connections and credibility to convert that momentum into sustained, career-defining opportunities. The agency is an excellent match for diverse actors who want representation that genuinely values and advocates for inclusive casting rather than paying lip service to diversity. If you have graduated from a strong drama school and built initial credits but are not yet at the level where the absolute top-tier agencies would sign you, Hamilton Hodell represents the ideal next step — an agency that can elevate your career while providing the personal attention you need at this critical development stage. Actors who eventually outgrow Hamilton Hodell often move to Curtis Brown, United Agents, or Independent Talent Group, and the agency views these transitions as successes rather than losses. For performers seeking the best combination of industry access and personal attention available at the mid-to-upper tier of London representation, Hamilton Hodell deserves serious consideration.
Pro Tips
Present a submission that demonstrates you have researched Hamilton Hodell specifically — reference their commitment to diversity if it is relevant to your profile, mention specific clients whose career trajectories resonate with your own goals, and articulate what you would bring to the roster rather than what you want from the agency. Ensure your Spotlight profile is current, well-organized, and accurately reflects your primary casting types, as agents will review it immediately after reading your submission. If you are recently out of drama school, prioritize building a few strong credits quickly to demonstrate professional viability before approaching — the agency is more accessible than the top tier but still expects evidence of professional readiness. Develop a showreel that showcases range and demonstrates on-camera capability, as screen work drives the majority of booking activity and income for most represented actors. Stay visible in the London theatre scene and the independent film community, as agents regularly attend showcases, fringe productions, and industry screenings to discover new talent.