Hayley-Marie Axe is a multi-talented award-winning actor, performing across film, TV and theatre productions. Her accolades include Best Supporting Actress (Broadway Baby) and Best Actress (CKF International Film Festival).
In her latest role in Dungeons & Dragons as Gwinn, The Barbarian, Hayley joins an all-star cast including Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, Chloe Coleman, Daisy Head and Hugh Grant.
Can you tell us a bit about your character in Dungeons & Dragons and what it was like to play this role?
My character in Dungeons and Dragons is Gwinn, wife of Marlamin (Bradley Cooper). Gwinn is a Barbarian woman who makes an honest living and is friendly and down to earth, a bit of a big friendly giant. Holga (Michelle Rodriguez) is Marlamin’s ex and when she goes to see him, she finds Gwinn and Marlamin are very happy together. I really enjoyed playing Gwinn, she loves the simple things in life and is very food orientated – a woman after my own heart.
Which movie would you say first sparked your passion for film?
This is a tough question, there are so many films I love but I remember watching ‘ My Girl’ a lot and reciting the lines and imagining myself playing the part of Vada and practicing in the mirror, crying and saying, “he needs his glasses”. Actually, I can probably still remember most of the lines.
You were filming on location in Ireland for D&D; which other locations have you filmed in, and which have been your favourites?
I loved filming in Belfast, but it was really strange and almost apocalyptic because there were still restrictions in place due to Covid. In some ways it was nice to be able to walk around the city when it wasn’t crowded because we could see it properly and take it all in – not that we went far but as our hotel was central we got to see the city centre with very few people. I really enjoyed Vienna when I was lucky enough to work there on the feature film Elysium Hernalsiense, I didn’t play a character as such, I did the dubbing for three characters in various Eastern European accents and spent a couple of days recording in a studio in Vienna. The producer Bernhard Kammel really looked after us, he arranged for someone to take me on a tour of the city and see the Schönbrunn Palace, amongst many other places. It’s a trip I will always remember, I am very lucky.
You also starred in Red Dwarf – from this to D&D means stepping into franchises with huge cult followings – do you feel the weight of that kind of expectation and ever overthink it, or is it all about enjoying the moment for you?
Absolutely, but for me the over thinking tends to be in the preparation which I suppose is no bad thing, once I’m on set I try and enjoy it and just be in the moment, I know that sounds cheesy but by that point there’s nothing else you can do so you just have to be there and present and listen. I have definitely over thought things before a shoot though, I remember regretting not asking more questions in the rehearsals for Red Dwarf but that’s a life lesson and on every job since I have made sure if I have a question, I ask it.
Do you have a specific actor or producer you would love to work with?
There are quite a few I’d love to work with, currently Jed Mercurio, Paul Abbott and Merman are on my list. I recently taped for a new drama series Jed Mercurio is working on, I didn’t get the job but I’m putting it out there so maybe there will be another role for me.
What projects do you have coming up?
I have just been working on thriller/drama series that will be released on Amazon prime later in the year and there a couple of indie feature films that are soon to be released.
Check out our review of Dungeons & Dragons here on Blazing Minds.
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
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