In my latest interview on Blazing Minds, I got an opportunity to ask actress Anna Danshina a few questions about the upcoming crime drama ‘Break‘. In the interview Anna discusses how she got into acting, working attracted her to the role and working with Rutger Hauer.
A gifted inner-city kid, wasting his talents on crime, gets in over his head until a chance encounter with a stranger presents him with an opportunity to turn his life around. But is it too late?
How did you first get into acting and was it something which you always wanted to pursue?
I got into acting five years ago when I started the Screen Acting Course at the Drama Centre London, Central Saint Martins. I was very fortunate to get a place at the Drama Centre because it is an outstanding institution that helps you to be fully prepared for your future acting career, a lot of celebrities are among its graduates such as Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Michael Fassbender.
With regards to whether I always wanted to pursue an acting career or not, my answer is “Yes”. Inside myself I always wanted to become an actress, but my life never followed a straight line so I did a number of interesting professional turns in my past – such as working for several years in diplomacy and international relations and doing a Master’s Degree at the University of Oxford. I strongly believe that acting is a talent that you are either born with or not, and if you have this talent you can always develop it further at any age regardless of your previous professional background. Last year I spent some time in Los Angeles and I observed how people there start with acting at different stages of their lives. For example, I know an actor who served many years in the military before he decided to become a screen actor, and after several weeks of training at the acting school he had his first role in a Netflix TV show. So, I always say, if you are passionate for acting, don’t be shy, give it a try!
Your latest film ‘Break’ will get a Drive-in premiere at Brent Cross Shopping Centre on 22nd July. For those who may be thinking of attending can you tell me a little bit about the film and what we can expect?
The film “Break” follows the troubled but talented Spencer Pryde (Sam Gittins), wasting his life on petty crime and violence, until a chance encounter with Chinese stranger and former ‘eight ball’ pool champion, Vince Qiang (David Yip) and tough-guy club owner Ray (Rutger Hauer) presents him with the opportunity to turn his life around. I believe this film will definitely be enjoyed by the audience because it has a great story and a wonderful cast. Friendship, love, passion for sport – these are the themes discussed in the film and I think that many viewers can relate to these themes. And of course, seeing Rutger Hauer on screen playing one of the lead characters – is something that I am sure many movie fans will appreciate.
You play ‘Alena’ in the film can you tell me a bit about the character and what attracted you to the role?
In the film my character “Alena” is a protégé of “Ray” (performed by Rutger Hauer), whose brother “Denis”, a close friend of the lead character “Spencer” has been killed in a gang fight. Along with Spencer, Alena is seeking justice for her dead brother. I liked this role as I enjoy playing strong female characters who are not afraid to challenge somebody if they feel it is the right thing to do. Also, even though Alena is a “tough lady”, she is a good person too. And that is why I enjoyed playing her so much, she has an internal depth inside herself being good and bad at the same time. I have to say that it makes me feel very glad that more and more interesting multidimensional female characters are being created every year.
What sort of preparation did you do for the role?
First of all, I read the script several times to make sure I could fully picture the story of the film in my imagination and my character’s role in the plot of the film. Then I tried to uncover my character’s main objective and conflict in the script and understand which role it serves in the overall idea of the film. I also tried to visualise Alena’s physicality and also think about her goals in life and her stakes in every scene of the film. Every time I find the process of devising a new character very fascinating. You are basically trying to introduce a new living being on screen, somebody who has her own past, present and future which can be very different from yours. But whichever role you play, it is always important to find this invisible connection between yourself and your character, something that makes you feel that it could be you. There are a lot of tools you can use to prepare for the role – doing some physical activities while being in character, even going out “in character”, but whatever you do, I think when you start shooting you should “live” your character, not “play” it.
Are there are elements of the character which you feel reflect some of your own personality?
Yes, I think there are. Like my character, I very much value friendship, I can also be committed to achieving my goals and I am always in favour of justice.
Did you experience any issues during filming which you had to overcome?
I was really happy to be part of the team, everyone on set was very professional and friendly and therefore I did not experience any significant issues that could distract me from my creative work. I was very glad to see some people with whom I worked before on different projects in the past but also to acquire some new friends. There were some long shooting days, but we had a great atmosphere on set and I have wonderful memories from my time on set.
What were some of your favourite moments during the filming of Break?
I remember very well the first day when I saw Rutger Hauer on set. I had only seen him before on screen and I was very impressed to see him in person. He seemed to me very tall and full of charisma. I would say he had this enigmatic quality that attracted everyone’s attention. At the same time, he was very friendly, polite and attentive. I was lucky to work with him on set, and I will always remember him not only as a legendary actor but also as a very good person. I was hoping I would see him again at the Premiere of “Break”. I feel I was very privileged to have a chance to work with him.
What do you hope people will take away from the film?
I think such messages as “don’t give up”, “drive for your passion”, “be focused and be strong” have prominent positions in the film. In our lives we all have periods when we feel down, demotivated and even helpless, and being able to reach your dream despite the challenges your life may bring – this is one of the lessons we can learn from the film. But of course, there is a love story and a story of great friendship and support which people can give to each other without asking something in return – these are very positive and at the same time entertaining subjects of the film that we can enjoy.
Do you have any other project which you are working on?
Recently I have had a number of very interesting auditions, one for the lead character in a Disney TV show, another one is a lead role in a French drama and one more for a British TV show. Also, I am going to work on a number of creative projects in the USA once the quarantine is totally lifted. One of these is a TV show sequel of Love Possibly (2018) – the British film which won more than 60 awards internationally amongst which 8 were awarded to me for the lead part of Lana. I am very happy that the film industry is slowly coming back from the quarantine.
What advice would you give to someone who is looking to get into acting themselves?
Be prepared for challenges and always stay positive. You never know when your time to shine will come, but you have to work hard every day to achieve great results.
Break will be the first ever premiere to be held at a Drive-In and then rolled out across the UK at other locations. The premiere will be hosted at Brent Cross Drive-In Club on Wednesday 22nd July, with the star-studded cast and celebrities in attendance.
You can find out more about the premiere and purchase tickets for the event on the official website.
You can keep up to date with news about Break on the following social media Twitter – Instagram – Facebook
Published in various websites, Philip is a reviewer who is best known for his interviews and media coverage of independent projects including; films, books, theatre and live events. Always on the lookout for something different to cover!
