Your new movie Dead
Before They Wake - in a few words, what's it about, and what can
you tell us about your character in it?
An action thriller that weaves a number of important stories together,
with sex trafficking, abduction, violence, power, and money. The story
follows Alex’s journey, and I play a teacher and sex worker called Gemma
who meets Alex and starts a kind of a relationship with him.
What did you
draw upon to bring your character to life, and how much Grace Cordell can
we find in Gemma? The link between desperation, money,
belonging and sense of self are things most people can relate to. It was
easy to find a way into playing Gemma because she’s written so
truthfully.
How did you get involved with the project in the first place, what drew you to it?
The story. Action thrillers often only have female roles that have no
background or real bones. Gemma was written with a fleshed out character
arc and backstory. To what
extent could you identify with Dead
Before They Wake's approach to the thriller genre? Although
there are some really huge action elements like cars blowing up and guns,
the story is set in truth and this is really where the work started and
where it shone for me on set. Do
talk about Dead
Before They Wake's directors Andy Crane [Andy
Crane interview - click here] and Nathan Shepka [Nathan
Shepka interview - click here], and
what was your collaboration like? Super collaborative. They
wanted to hear my thoughts - they hired me to get into Gemma’s mind and
see her journey and progression through the story. It was great to work in
such a free environment where I also felt listened to and inspired. A few words about the
shoot as such? My first shoot day was a night shoot and it
was a mild 2 degrees in the middle of a farm for maybe 12+ hours, so was
definitely straight in at the deep end. This day and the entire shoot was
an incredibly joyful experience, despite the subject matter. The on-set
atmosphere was great, really professional, down to earth and gave real
time to explore and get to the emotional crux of the piece. Any future projects you'd like to share? Currently
working on a short horror called Alone and constantly working on REDRUM
True Crime podcast as my job alongside acting.
What got you into acting in the first place, and did you receive any formal
training on the subject? I did drama school when I was 18,
and then mainly have learned on set. My first few jobs were in theatre and
I was working with some of the most experienced, generous, inspiring
actors, so I learned a lot from them. What can you tell us about your
filmwork prior to Dead
Before They Wake? I’ve mainly worked on horrors
and thrillers, most recently doing a short called Captured, set in a
basement, where I got to play the bad guy which was loads of fun. And Cara, which comes out this year. It’s a really harsh horror that will
make you feel grim, but you’ll probably wanna watch it again. How would you describe
yourself as an actress, and some of your techniques to bring your
characters to life?

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I try and base everything in truth, how
can I relate to this scenario or moment? Beyond that, I make sure I’m as
prepared as possible, and my headspace is good (this means I gotta eat
right and get good sleep), so when I get on set I have freedom to listen
and play and enjoy the intricacies of the work. Actresses (and indeed actors) who
inspire you? I’m constantly inspired by Kate Winslet and
Emma Thompson. They’re masters of their craft, bringing incredible range
to their performances while grounding every role in truth. Beyond their
on-screen brilliance, their activism and the way they use their platforms
to spark meaningful conversations are equally inspiring. Take Kate’s
recent work in Lee, for example. Her performance, which earned her
nominations for a Golden Globe and an AACTA Award, is incredibly
inspiring. The film’s story of perseverance—following a female
photojournalist breaking barriers during WWII—mirrors Kate’s own fight
to get the biopic made. It’s a testament to her commitment to telling
stories that seem impossible but are so necessary. That same spirit of
determination feels deeply resonant with Dead
Before They Wake. Like Lee,
it confronts challenges head-on, shining a light on stories that deserve
to be told, no matter the obstacles. Both films remind us of the power of
persistence and the impact of art in reshaping the narrative. Your favourite movies?
Shawshank Redemption, Scream, Promising
Young Woman, Saint Maud, Candyman
(Bernard Rose), Candyman (Nia DaCosta), Saw. ...
and of course, films you really deplore? Marvel? Your website, social media, whatever else? Instagram: Me:
@gracecordell_ REDRUM True Crime Podcast: @redrumtruecrime Cookies:
@thiccbakess Thanks
for the interview!
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