Matthew Lessall, a distinguished two-term former president of the Casting Society of America (CSA), was born in London and raised in New York. His journey into casting began after earning a degree in Communications from DePauw University, followed by acting studies at LAMDA in London, where he discovered his passion for the craft. Throughout his career, he was mentored by renowned casting directors Jeremy Zimmermann, Eve Brandstein, Roger Mussenden, and Susan Shopmaker, whose guidance helped shape his approach to casting. He later served as an in-house Casting Consultant for Fox Searchlight Pictures' esteemed Searchlab Writer/Director Program, further honing his expertise in discovering and developing emerging talent.

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Lessall's career spans both the U.S. and the U.K., leveraging his dual citizenship to cast critically acclaimed international features, series, pilots, and new media projects across diverse genres—from YA to comedy and horror. Renowned for his innovative contributions to independent film casting, he has held executive roles at major studios, including Director of Feature Film Casting at 20th Century Fox and consultant positions at Paramount Television Studios, where he worked on projects such as Urban Cowboy (FOX), Shooter (USA), and Berlin Station (EPIX).

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With a keen eye for emerging talent, Lessall's early work on films such as Mean Creek, Rocket Science, and Deidra & Laney Rob a Train helped establish his reputation for discovering young breakout actors. His international co-productions span Australia, Canada, Germany, Greece, and Mexico, with many projects showcased at prestigious festivals, including Cannes, TIFF, Venice, Sundance, Tribeca, and SXSW. Notable successes include Chronic, which won the Cannes Palme d'Or, and Miss Stevens, for which Lily Rabe won Best Actress at SXSW.

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In new media, Lessall cast Warner Premiere’s record-setting web series Mortal Kombat: Legacy and Warner Digital’s Aim High. He also produced the acclaimed festival favorite Reparation. His industry recognition includes six Artios nominations, two wins, and a notable 2023 Canadian Screen Awards nomination for Achievement in Casting, shared with Canadian casting director Nicole Hilliard-Forde.

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A longstanding member of BAFTA, Casting Society (CSA), and the ICDA, Lessall currently resides in Los Angeles with his husband and their Golden Retriever, Noah.