indieactivity: Can you remember a specific moment that made you realize you wanted to become an actor?
Ayvianna Snow (AS): It was the culmination of lots of experiences, more complex than just one moment.
Tell us about your first time acting – was it in theatre or film?
Ayvianna Snow (AS): I did various stage plays as a child, then went to drama school and did loads more plays. When I graduated, my first professional experience was playing Titania in a nationwide tour, going around England and France.
Tell us about your first acting experience in film? (if not covered above)
Ayvianna Snow (AS): I was cast unexpectedly as a creepy nun in Paul Hyett’s film The Convent– it wasn’t a large role, she spent most of the first half of the film in bed dying from a fever! But it got my foot in the door, and kicked off my love of horror!
What drew you to the horror genre and what makes the UK indie horror scene a thriving & popular sector?
Ayvianna Snow (AS): I think people in the past have often written horror off as silly or vapid; until recently it was very difficult for a horror film to win a serious award. When horror plays open in the West End, such as 2:22 A Ghost Story, they immediately become vehicles for celebrities and influencer/models to star in. But I hope that the advent of companies like A24 and Blumhouse are changing that, and horror is being taken more seriously now. It’s a hugely versatile genre which allows us to confront and explore the dark, primal parts of ourselves which you could never touch in a romcom.
How has your acting improved over the years? What have been your key learnings?
Ayvianna Snow (AS): I hope it’s improved!! I feel like that famous violinist in his seventies who was asked why he still practices every day: “I feel like I’m making progress!” I think I’ve just learned not to try so hard. Confident, relaxed performances are better.
You’ve been in 70+ films–aside from talent what’s the secret to being busy in a business that’s tough?
Ayvianna Snow (AS): I spend maybe 5% of my time actually acting. Everything else is hustle. Sending tapes, networking, finding scripts, sourcing funds, making contacts- I work much harder on all of that than I ever do on set. Being on set is a breeze in comparison!
Explain one creative choice you took on the set?
Ayvianna Snow (AS): When I played Anna in “Derelict” I did a lot of reading and also watched documentaries about real-life drug addiction; I was keen not to play her as a stereotype. I was very aware that this is something real people go through, and I wanted to honour that and not reduce her to simply playing a “bad girl”. In reality, having a drug problem doesn’t automatically make someone a bad person, and I felt that Anna had a good heart- the circumstances of her life had simply brought her to a difficult place. I tried to play it with nuance and respect.
Based in UK you‘re an active member of Equity & Campaigner for arts–how important is it for you to be at the ‘business end’ of the arts?
Ayvianna Snow (AS): Hugely important. If we don’t fight to protect our industry from the oncoming threat of AI. Streaming, low residual payments etc. There won’t be an industry in another generation. Drama training is also in crisis- the course I trained on cost £9000 ten years ago. The same course costs £30k today. Bristol Old Vic has had to close their undergrad course as they can’t make the money work. We will end up in a dire position. The only people who can afford to be actors come from generational wealth. Which will be a loss to the cultural landscape.
Tell us about your latest projects?
Ayvianna Snow (AS): I star in two new films. The one is Rumpelstiltskin. Which tells the story of one of the scariest childhood villains—and this time, the haunting tale gets even darker. I play the seductive yet deadly role of a Succubus, luring unsuspecting men to their fiery fate. The second is St. Patrick’s Day Massacre. I play the role of Kendra. One of a group of college friends tricked into spending the night in a creepy Irish tavern. Where the corridors are stalked by a vengeful undead killer.
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