US actor Cuba Gooding to direct Optus ad after finding Aussie talent

OSCAR winner Cuba Gooding Jr flies into Sydney this weekend for his first shot at directing a TV ad — but his hunt for Aussie talent starts today.

OSCAR-winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr is on the hunt for Australia’s next big talent.

The US star will fly in to Sydney at the weekend to direct television commercials for Optus and is looking for actors to appear on screen alongside him.

The 50-year-old recently directed his first film Bayou Caviar and this will be his first shot at the helm of a TV ad.

Cuba Gooding Jr will meet up to 30 auditionees in face-to-face meetings.

Gooding Jr, who won a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award in 1997 for Jerry Maguire, visited Australia last year for the telco.

He will release a video call-out for auditions via Facebook today.

Cuba Gooding Jr has had a long history with Australian talent, including Paul Hogan in Lightning Jack in the 90s.

Gooding became famous for his “Show me the money!” catchphrase in the mid-90s film Jerry Maguire.

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The top 20 to 30 auditions will receive a call-back for a face-to-face meeting with the actor.

It will be Gooding Jr’s second visit to Australia within a year.

He was in Sydney in December to promote a series of ads he fronted for Optus.

Anyone interested in auditioning needs to register online via casting @optusprojects.com.au.