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Your new movie A
Light Through Coloured Glass - in a few words, what is it about, and
what can you tell us about your character in it?
William's
life is quickly flipped upside down after his wife leaves him. He
meets Tina, a younger lady with her own issues. Tina is a highly outspoken,
misunderstood character who is merely going through the motions.
She lacks the things she most desires, including real friends, family,
money, hopes, and security. Everyone will be familiar with someone
who is precisely like Tina; she lives on every council estate in existence
and is just trying to get by. What did you draw upon to bring your character to life, and how
much Sophia Leanne Kelly can we actually find in Tina? I
was raised on a council estate, so you could say I'm a real proud Northern
lass. I imagined Tina and my surroundings by drawing on my memories
of how things were in the past. I come from the working class, and
although my parents never had any money, they worked incredibly hard to
earn every single penny. I went in that direction. I didn't complain if
I needed something; instead, I went out and worked three jobs at once to
make sure I could get by. I used method acting to help me convey how Tina
or I felt during the more dramatic parts by drawing on some dark times
in my own life. However, Tina Shepherd is solely responsible for the
foul language, her arrogance, and her lack of enthusiasm for everything,
even life itself. How
did you get attached to the project in the first place? Actually,
I was engaged with another project at the time. I was merely
performing a little supporting role when I became incredibly discouraged
about my performance and wondered aloud, "Will I ever be good enough?"
Up until that moment, I had received a lot of "no"s, "doors in your face",
or "support artist work", and it didn't seem as though I would ever
be able to realise the full potential I knew I possessed.
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I
was on the verge of giving up until Mike Clarke [Mike
Clarke interview - click here], who was there as an experienced
director to advise that film's new director, noticed something on
the set the day I had my small scene that no one else had. I broke down in
tears when his production team sent me an email asking me to record a self-tape
for A
Light Through Coloured Glass. I was given a chance, and I
seized it with all of the remaining grit I had. I nailed the audition and
received the yes I had been hoping for. I can vividly recall that day, and
I was aware from that first email that it was the start of something
very
exceptional.
Was all the waiting and rejection worthwhile? Absolutely! What
can you tell us about A
Light Through Coloured Glass's director Mike Clarke, and what was your collaboration
like? What a legend! He is not only a fantastic, honest director but also a
genuinely lovely person. Without his talent-spotting eye, perseverance,
wit,
and charm, none of this would have been even somewhat feasible. It
was
so nice to have constant advice, pep talks, support, and confidence
that
it seemed simple to enter and exit character as needed. He
discovered
me tucked away in the background of another film and made me
the
star of his. I'll
always be glad that he was able to see something that neither I nor
anybody
else could. Despite all the difficulties we encountered along
the
process, he never wavered in his faith, which is what makes him a
dream
to work with and even more extraordinary than the others for
recognising
something and making it happen! Being the fantastic
filmmaker
that he is, it was an honour to work with him, but I feel even
more
honoured to be able to call him a friend. Do talk about the shoot as such, and the on-set atmosphere? I
had the opportunity to collaborate with some fantastic talent, and
working
on set never seemed like work. It was consistently characterised
by
enjoyment, hilarity, friendly banter, mutual respect, and affection.
I found myself spending a lot of time working behind the scenes and not simply as my character as a result of numerous curve balls, including
cast
and crew withdrawals, a global pandemic, location changes, and a
zero
budget, to mention a few. The first scene happened in 2019 and the
last
scene was finished in January 2022, so it did take a very long time
to
make. Nevertheless,
Mike Clarke, the director, and I worked very hard to get A
Light Through Coloured Glass finished.
We analysed all of those problems and came up with answers for each and every one of them. It was quite
difficult at times but I like a good challenge. Despite all we
encountered,
I never gave up because I
wanted
to see the movie through. It was
truly
a collaborative effort, and I'm
extremely
happy to have contributed to it. The recognition, reviews, and
accolades
it has received during the festival run have been so overwhelming that it has made
the final product so much more satisfying and worthwhile.
Any future projects you'd like to share? I'm
working on some amazing things, but I'm not sure whether I can
commit
to stating them aloud or if I'm even allowed to at this time.
However,
I will say that each character will be very different to Tina
Shepherd.
I know for sure each role will undoubtedly put my acting
talents,
versatility, and adaptability to the test. #watchthisspace What
got you into acting in the first place, and did you receive any formal
training on the subject? I used to enjoy performing for my family or singing and dancing in front
of
the mirror while brushing my hair. It's strange to say, but I do
think
I was born to entertain the world. Everyone used to say that I was
"born
to perform on stage." I get such a rush and satisfaction from
seeing
people love what I produce. I have only ever thought of myself as
an
actress. I received training in both stage and film acting, gaining a National
Diploma and a BA with honours in Performance Practice from LCC, where
I also received a Special Achievement Award. When I was 17 or 18, I
did consider going to drama school, but I had neither the funds nor the
confidence to do so. As a result, I looked for other ways to try to succeed
in the profession while remaining true to myself. What can you tell us about your
film and TV work prior to A
Light Through Coloured Glass? I
won't lie, prior to appearing in A
Light Through Coloured Glass, I didn't
do much because, at the time, the majority of my work was coming from
the theatre and I was so convinced that I would pursue that career path.
In order to make connections and gain a thorough understanding of the
film and television industries, I started building my portfolio by working
on several student films, features, and as a support artist
travelling
for different TV series. My curiosity really began to take
off
at this point, but I always felt like I wanted to be more than just
a
background blur.
From what I know,
besides movies and TV, you're also doing plenty of theatre - so what can
you tell us about your career as a stage actress, and how does performing
in front of a live audience compare to acting in front of a camera? And
which to you prefer, actually? I
was around 7 years old when I first developed a love for the theatre.
After
seeing the musical Blood Brothers, I turned to my mother and
said,
"That's what I want to be doing one day." The rest, as they say,
is
history. Even though I like both cinema and television, the theatre
will
always hold a special place in my heart and the performer in me. My
first
love was it. On stage, it's raw and real; whatever happens, you
just
have to roll with it. If you mess up a line on set, you can just do
another
take. For
me personally, the sensation you get on stage is different from being
on a movie set. I simply adore the ambiance, the intensity, and the
audience enthusiasm. It's similar to a drug in that you can become dependent
on it. One way or another, I always find myself lured back to the
theatre, and I absolutely love it. The excitement you have while performing
or witnessing a live show is tremendous! Along
with Dressed in Time, The Touring Consortium, Kes, To Sir With
Love,
An Inspector Calls, and A Tale of Two Cities, I have worked in other
professional theatre plays across the UK. Recently, I performed as Taylor
Flint, the main character, in the stage adaptation Mighty Atoms by
Amanda Whittington. A Midsummer Night's Dream, As You Like It, and
The Tempest are just a few of the Shakespearean plays I've performed in while
touring the UK and Wales. Having said all of that, I have discovered a new love and passion for
film, especially since making my professional debut in A
Light Through Coloured Glass. As a result of this movie, I am confident that my
passion
will only continue to grow, especially with the right team and
director
by my side. I'm very interested to see where my journey takes
me
as I advance in the film industry.
How would you describe
yourself as an actress, and some of your techniques to bring your
characters to life? I'm best described by my colleagues as a gritty character actor; I adore
parts that evoke strong emotions in both the actors and the spectator. I make
an effort to authenticate everything I do by performing in a genuine,
emotive manner. Being 5ft 2 makes it possible for me to look and
perform younger than my actual age, which I think is a big advantage and
offers variety. I like to think of myself as a performer who is extremely
passionate and works hard in whatever she does, not only acting
but also in her daily activities. As I seek the truth and realism for
my performance, I do use method and the Meisner technique into my
acting. Research is the first thing I do before ever considering portraying a role.
I compile a list of plays or movies that correspond to the part I'm
playing and watch them repeatedly to get ideas. I will then study the
screenplay in order to abandon it and take on the role after that. The
beautiful thing about A
Light Through Coloured Glass was that I
didn't
have to follow the script; I could improv whenever I felt at that particular
time as long as I stayed within the bounds of reason and the plot.
It simply makes it more genuine for the character and the viewers, in my opinion.
Actresses (and indeed actors) who
inspire you? Dame Julie Walters and Robin Williams are my go-to idols, and this is
why: Dame
Julie Walters is someone I've always loved. She has impeccable comic
timing, and she portrays every role she plays with such authenticity
and reality. She's someone I've admired for a long time because
in every interview I've seen her in, she simply comes across as genuine
and down to earth. Just her, no ego in the way. It's incredibly inspiring and refreshing! Robin
Williams always managed to make you feel something, whether it was joy,
despair, rage, or love, and he did it with such ease. By being
himself, he made the world such a happy place, and that was evident in every
role he performed. When I watched interviews or saw him on the set with
his co-stars, it was nothing but fun and laughter. He could handle anything
that was thrown at him. Even though he is no longer with us, he continues
to inspire me today just as he did when I was a child. His films
will serve as a living memorial to him.
Your favourite movies? I
could write about movies all day, so I'll only mention a handful that come to mind:
The
Lord of the Rings trilogy. Simply, it consistently oozes amazement. Gladiator.
Heartbreakingly sad! I cry every time because of the song and
finale.
Forrest Gump. Regardless of what he does, Tom Hanks is a true legend.
Jack
(1996). Robin Williams serves as an influence to the entire
performing
community. The film's epilogue features a beautiful
monologue.
His contributions will always be remembered.
Billie Elliot. Heartbreaking and inspiring plot. All over, the acting is
gorgeous
and real. What more could one ask for? Titanic.
Sorry, but that absolutely counts as a guilty pleasure.
I could talk about movies all day, but these are just a few that I
thought were especially motivational. Location, attire, acting, music, props,
colour grading, and a memorable line come into play here. The list
goes on and on! Simply said, watching movies motivates me to
persevere
and appreciate what I do even more. ... and of course, films you really deplore? Nothing
immediately springs to me, but I will say that I detest movies that
give the audience information they already know. Let the viewers exercise
their imagination and take charge. I just sit there and ask the TV
why? It seems to be done so frequently in today's narratives. We don't
need to be informed the precise reasons why X, Y, and Z are acting in
a certain way at that precise moment. It becomes unbearably dull and uninteresting
to watch. I also don't like movies that start out very slowly
before picking up steam and then have an useless conclusion. After
spending two hours of your life that you will never get back, you feel
let down. Your website,
social media, whatever else?
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Make sure to follow me on
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media to stay up to speed with all of my most recent work:
Instagram: sophialeanne_actor
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Anything else you're dying
to mention and I have merely forgotten to ask? I appreciate everyone reading, and I'm grateful to Search My Trash for
providing me the chance to be interviewed. Thanks
for the interview!
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