Interview: British Actress Natasha Rose Mills talks about her acting career

Natasha Rose Mills (photo by AP Wilding)

My passion started to form when I was young and I performed short improvised plays in front of my family, I felt a sensory experience that ignited the trigger to perform. I attended The Court Youth Theatre Group In Bicester where I lived to explore performance. I began taking dance lessons from modern to capoeira, a dance which is a martial arts dance form. The performances felt immersive and I felt a sense of freedom and adrenaline that grew to pursue this as a potential career. I began perfectly practising routines continuously to be the best I could possibly be.

I felt inspired by Audrey Hepburn, I would sit curled on my sofa watching classic old films like My Fair Lady, Sabrina, Breakfast At Tiffany’s, her grace and assurance of definitive purpose in her role shined through. The contrast between the characters she played was inspiring. I was strongly influenced by her to evolve my performance into acting.

indieactivity: Did you study acting?
Natasha: I studied at Oxford and City College Performance Diploma to learn the fundamentals in acting. In 2010 I attended a drama school Adam Deacon opened called the Deconstructive Group. This was a drama school Adam Deacon set up to help guide new talent starting out in the industry. The classes were solely improv, which gave me a chance to explore various emotions in its entirety. In 2012 I went to a Youth Theatre Drama Group in Camden.

HAPPY! #showreelshareday Female 16-25 I am looking for #FILM #TV #CASTING opportunities PLS #RT Thanks for watching 🙂 Thanks to @KateDaviesSpeak @ShowreelShare @bashfordtwins @grand_talent Spotlight 3332-4531-7405 pic.twitter.com/ifMlQygHpP

— Natasha Rose Mills (@Tasharosemills) February 21, 2018

The classes were great and immersive which explored laban Stanislavski techniques and how to apply them in your acting. I took a stage combat armed exam whilst attending the school. I worked hard to develop my skill set and utilise my talents. In the study, we explored modern methods applied to writing a dialogue play. I worked tirelessly writing in class and improvising. Laban was immersive and physically you had to throw your body into an animalistic state, crafting your skill and enlightening your imagination. It was a great way to get out of your comfort zone.

indieactivity: What acting technique do you use?
Natasha: I use past memory and personal experience to draw on to create a vision and imagination to understand the motivations of the character and the meaning behind them. The character is essentially you but in another form of reality if you followed a different path. It’s becoming an authentic version of you but portrayed in other situations and environment of circumstances. As a human being, we feel emotions, in acting, I wouldn’t say it is acting, it’s more of a real vision of you projected onto screen.

indieactivity: Do you take courses to improve your craft?
Natasha: I have just started a new class at Unseen Drama School to improve my ability and continuously practice my craft. I am blessed to be nurtured and given advice by my partner who is a film director himself working in the industry,

indieactivity: What acting books do you read?
Natasha: At the moment I am in the middle of reading Mel Churcher Workshop. This book explores many methods of acting on screen, one that strongly stuck with me was her method where you remember your childhood and your imagination was very enhanced. Children are not scared of failing, as we grow up into adulthood the dreams we have as a child seems to diminish. Its remembering times dated back to your childhood to open up your imagination.

Natasha Rose Mills (Photo by AP Wilding)

I am also reading Think and Grow Rich originally written by Napoleon Hill from a mans perspective, this new version was specifically adapted for women by Sharon Lechter. I feel strongly influenced from this book, which has many inspiring stories of empowering women like Oprah Whiphy, Mother Teresa, and women inventors such as Hedy Lamarr, a famous actress who co-invented wireless communications used in combat during the war which later transferred to WIFI AND GPS. I would strongly recommend all women from all walks of life to read this book.

indieactivity: How do you keep fit as an actor?
Natasha: Each morning I exercise to get my body pumping with pilates or yoga. Then I meditate, visualise and usually listen to a podcast to feed my mind with something positive and powerful to start my day.

indieactivity: How do you prepare for a role, when you get it?
Natasha: Once I’ve read the script, I take in the character and environment she is involved in or surrounded by. I find it easier to break it down if you associate a scene with a strong emotion in relation to the context of a character.

indieactivity: How do you create a character in a script into a real person?
Natasha: I get as much information as I can to carve a backstory of the character to understand their purpose from the beginning to where they are now. I associate it with any personal experiences I have had that are similar so I can understand the motivations of the character.

indieactivity: How do you stay fresh on a production set?
Natasha: I call them anchors. There are details that carry more weight than others that I find in a character and when I can go to the side and take a moment and find that anchor the rest of the character comes back. The goosebump sensation occurs over my body and I know that I am connected with him. I get lost in him and I am

indieactivity: Describe a memorable character you played?
Natasha: I was given a chance to delve into a psychological role, playing lead character Sarah in the short film Last Night in 2017 directed by Derek Boyes, who has worked with the BBC and is a former NFTS student. This was a memorable experience for me working with such a wonderful cast and crew. It was a night shoot on location which heightened my experiences of the character.

indieactivity: What do you want most from a director?
Natasha: A vision of imagination, someone who knows exactly what they want and how they can interpret their ideas. But also someone who understands the person they’re working with.

indieactivity: What actors do you long to work with?
Natasha: I would love to have the opportunity to work with Natalie Portman.

indieactivity: Why?
Natasha: I truly think she’s an exceptional actress who is diverse in her interpretation of the roles she plays. She creates an experience for the audience, particularly in Black Swan playing a vulnerable young dancer transformed into the darker side of herself.

indieactivity: What advice would you give to actors?
Natasha: Each one of us goes through stages where we feel it’s hard and it is at times, but nothing is easy, the rewards will follow from working hard and being relentless in your attitude. I would say keep at it, practice your craft regularly and surround yourself with people that have a positive influence on you who you can learn from to be the best version of you. But also feed your mind and meditate on a regular basis to bypass any negative energy that we keep bottled up.

Natasha Rose Mills in Last Night (Photo by Gavin James Roberts)

indieactivity: Briefly write about your career?
Natasha: I made my first screen appearance in 2014 which was the feature film Capsule directed by Andrew Martin. I played a small speaking role as a Russian secretary. In 2017 I briefly appeared in a riot scene on Accident Man directed by Jessie V Johnson. Within the same year I worked on psychological drama Last Night as Sarah. It was a surreal, immersive experience and the role gave me a chance to really push physically and emotionally.

My recent project was World War II short film The Code directed by Award Winning Patrick Ryder, and cinematography by Richard Oakes. I really enjoyed my time on set working with Patrick on this incredible film, I was so grateful to be cast as Tommy’s sister Sophie, I felt like a completely different person stepping into a different period in time.

This year I am delving into writing my first screenplay, which is a short film called Colourblind. The film will be directed by Award Winning Directors The Bashford Twins. It’s a charity based film to raise awareness for domestic violence.