My first appearance was in a short film. When I was on set for the first time I recall thinking to myself ‘I am somebody else today’ the idea of being someone else for a day has always appealed to me. It’s like the old saying goes ‘Don’t judge someone until you have walked a day in their shoes’ well when you play a character you get to understand them and judge them good or bad as you are walking in their shoes. I love the journey you can go on with your character.
Did you study acting
As a young girl I fell in love with cinematic film. I can recall thinking’ That freedom of expression and beauty brought to life where an audience can get involved in the world no matter what it is. I attended The stagecoach drama class followed by an acting program that included a small stint at The Stella Adler Academy. I have not had a huge amount of professional acting coaching. What I have learnt on the craft comes from watching and listening to professional actors and directors.
What acting technique do you use
I have a name for my technique .. Its called ‘ The Being Present Technique’ for me to deliver a performance I don’t go to a place when I was feeling pain or joy. I stay present in all performances as I feel for me, what I will deliver to a performance will be unexpected and not what I was expecting to feel, a series of emotions. And I can only go to that place to feel those emotions for the first time. If only I’m present.
What wrong impressions do actors hold about acting
I think actors believe that they have to be directed to act and be as different and as unique as possible. Directors want actors who can deliver performances as good as the greatest actors of film. When you deliver a line make it your own so its natural to you and your character. I don’t believe you have to be attractive to be an actor, yes its nice to have someone that looks great on-screen ..so what if you have a crooked nose, dodgy chin or a scar that’s what makes your screen presence you not being perfect is what makes you believable to an audience. you are allowed to be ugly on-screen. That’s what makes you an actor.
Do you take courses to improve your craft
I watch a lot of what acting coaches speak about online they have lots of tips to help you. I also watch a lot of films. I never stop watching films of all genres. Read , Read and read. It’s very important.
What acting books do you read
Acting by Lee Strasberg
How do you keep fit as an actor
I use music for mental and physical stimulation.
When you’re offered a role, what do you do next
I first read the script to see, do I believe it and what can I bring to it. I will then sit with the character for a week or so and build in my head the mannerisms and voice of the character. I get to know the back story of the character also. On a daily basis in a quiet time I will relive the character for a moment. Once I have that lock down I will then go through a rehearsal stage and the rest will naturally fall into place. In all my roles I want to take the audience on a journey, as well as myself.
How do you take a character in a script to an honest, believable and breathing person
It yet comes back to the ‘ Being Present Technique ‘ The character has been uniquely created and never been seen before so I can give birth to it and make it mine.
How do you stay fresh on set
For me it’s very, very important to stay presently in character I even have people on set acknowledge me by the character name, then you are not in and out of character…you are present.
Describe a memorable character you played
I played a ghost in a film earlier this year. This was a musical film which has no dialogue but tells the story through emotions only. I loved this role as there was a very strong sense of compassion and empathy while I was interacting with my fellow actors.
Explain one creative choice you took on set
I played a role in a film where one part of the film there was no dialogue written. I knew what the director’s vision was, so I improvised-improvisation is a good technique that should be learnt.
What do you want most from a director
I want to learn camera techniques from a director. That of the cinematic kind that when an audience watches a scene they are drawn in by the character who is telling the story. You can deliver your performance to the fullest but catching that angle is I believe to be the money shot.
What actors do you long to work with
Al Pacino
Why
He is present in every performance he delivers. When I watch him I don’t see Al Pacino the actor. I see the character. In his eyes you can see the character he is portraying. He is never in and out of character. Al Pacino holds you when you watch him in a scene as you never know what’s going to come next. He is exciting to watch on-screen, he is not trying. He just is.
What advice would you give to actors
Don’t try to be different, unique, etc.. Just be the character that is all you need to do. You as an actor don’t need to be different as the character you are portraying is doing that for you. Read a lot of books that’s very important to get a sense of being present as when you read it’s just you and your mind. Your mind gets time to think of what you have just read and you are present as there are no distractions. Choose the characters you want to portray wisely. Try not to stay in one genre so you get type cast. You’re an actor.
Briefly write about your career
I played in a film called Paranoia, Portraying Ms. Parks who presents an interview surrounding the terrorist attacks on French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. I never knew anything about this event until I was offered the role. I researched this event that took place and it came to my knowledge how freedom of speech is still a struggle for many people around the world.
I’m soon to start working on a new feature film called ‘Pavement To Penthouse’ I have also have had the honor to have penned the theme tune to the movie.
As well as an Actor I’m also a Reggae/Dancehall Music Artist. My first single ‘Skank It’ had a release in 2013 accompanied with a video I wrote and released my EP and album ‘Drop It Down Low’ last year.
I’m due to release a single with a collaboration in December 2015.
LinkedIn | Facebook | IMDB | SoundCloud | Twitter | YouTube | iTunes
