“A Single Man” writer-director Tom Ford used unconventional methods to cast his latest film, “Nocturnal Animals.” His hunt for an actress to play Amy Adams’ character’s mother led him to an unlikely resource: Google. Vulture reports that Ford used the search engine to look up “best American actresses” and “actors over 30,” and eventually stumbled upon three-time Oscar nominee Laura Linney and cast her in the role.

Linney doesn’t have much screen time in the critically acclaimed drama, but her role as Adams’ disapproving, brutally honest mother is crucial. Ford said that had he known she would be “so spectacular,” he would have “given her more scenes.”

Most directors rely on their own preferences or casting agents to secure their on-screen talent, but Ford’s approach likely speaks to the fact that so many actresses who would be the right age for the role aren’t appearing in many projects — it’s much easier to brainstorm actresses in their 20s than ones who are old enough to play the mother of a twenty-something. (“Nocturnal Animals” includes flashbacks, and Adams’ character is depicted in her 20s. Special effects were used to make Adams look younger during these scenes. Linney is actually only ten years older than Adams.)

In the top 100 highest-grossing films of 2015, males 40 and over accounted for 54 percent of all male characters, whereas females 40 and over comprised 34 percent of all female characters — a difference of 20 percent. Women over 40 often disappear on the big screen.

Ford’s method, while initially confounding, actually makes a great deal of sense. Directors should take note. If you’re sent a list of actresses to consider for a role and all of them are young, white, and have the exact same body type, consider the possibility of broadening your horizons and making your project more inclusive. It can be as simple as performing a Google search.

“Nocturnal Animals” hits theaters today, November 18.