Why the CIA hires showbiz people, both for missions and inspiring next generation of spies

South China Morning Post

19-07-2025

At CIA headquarters in Langley, in the US state of Virginia, weapons-trained officers, computer engineers, virologists, nuclear scientists and a wide range of other experts toil away in the complex world of spycraft.
But you will also find storytellers, make-up artists, theatre majors, ballerinas – people who probably never thought their skills would match the needs of a spy agency.
The CIA thought otherwise.
Though it is rarely highlighted, a revolving door of talent exists between America's premier intelligence agency and its entertainment industry, with inspiration and influence often working both ways.
Not only does the agency target professionals at the intersection of arts and technology for recruitment, it cooperates with entertainment giants to inspire the next generation of creative spies, CIA officers said.
This month, the agency is assisting a New York Times bestselling author on a young adult book examining the foundations of the CIA laid during World War II.
Scenes from a major upcoming film production were just shot at its headquarters, a logistical feat at an intelligence campus tucked away in the suburbs behind rings of security perimeters, where officers roam, cracking down on Bluetooth signals. Another popular streaming TV series will be back at Langley to film this autumn.