By Erin Free
Young Australian actress Alyla Browne is already on the path to major big screen success. At just thirteen-years-of –age, Browne has been in front of the camera for nearly half her life. Starting her career in TV commercials at the age of six, Browne has since found great success on film and television, with roles in the acclaimed local crime series Mr. Inbetween (in which she played a youngster caught up in a child trafficking ring), the Aussie-shot horror remake Children Of The Corn, the TV series Eden, the Nicole Kidman-starring Liane Moriarty adaptation Nine Perfect Strangers, George Miller’s trippy Three Thousand Years Of Longing, the Jessica Watson biopic True Spirit (in which she plays the famous solo sailor as a young girl), and the upcoming The Lost Flowers Of Alice Hart (in which she stars opposite Sigourney Weaver) and Sting, from local horror auteur Kiah Roache-Turner (Wyrmwood). Now, Alyla Browne delivers a wonderfully fresh and energetic performance in The Secret Kingdom, a stunning piece of world-building in which two youngsters (Sam Everingham and Alyla Browne as brother and sister Peter and Verity) are whisked away to a strange underworld land populated by unusual creatures and powerful, evil forces.
You bring so much energy and charm to Verity. How did you get into the mindset to play her? Did you see much of yourself in Verity?
“Why, thank you! I haven’t yet seen the film, but it sounds like Verity turned out exactly how I hoped! I used the script to start building my character, but to be honest, it was mainly impulse during the scenes.I suppose Verity is me and I am Verity. When you play a character, you are yourself with someone else’s skin. You will always be within your character, in varying degrees. Though how much of your self is in a character also depends on how much alike you are to start with.”
You and Sam Everingham are so believable as brother and sister – did you hang out together a bit to build up that warmth and casual sibling-style banter?
“Not really, but I think Matt’s script created a very genuine sibling relationship. Not having time to bond was the main reason we didn’t hang out. I don’t think I got to meet Sam before our first day of filming.”
So much ofThe Secret Kingdomis created in the computer. How challenging is it working against screens and against characters that aren’t physically there?
“It was really cool because [director] Matt Drummond used new technology to project scenery behind us; we didn’t have to imagine where we were.When you are young, naturally you can imagine much more vividly. I was nine when we filmed, and I turned ten on-set. Since then, I have never once had memories of the difficulties working in a studio. I only realised how easy it was when answering this question.”
What was your biggest challenge onThe Secret Kingdom, and your biggest surprise?
“The biggest challenge was getting back to set after lunch. We filmed at Sydney Props Photo Studios and they have the most amazing warehouse filled with all sorts of incredible stuff. I spent a lot of time wandering around and getting lost in all of it. Most of it was very creepy and obviously for horror movies. I remember wearing a hamburger costume and pretending to have my leg eaten by a very realistic crocodile!The biggest surprise for me would have to be when the name of the movie changed just a couple of months ago.”[The Secret Kingdom was initially titled Don’t Go Below]
You have worked with some amazing actors in Sigourney Weaver (on the upcoming TV series The Lost Flowers Of Alice Hart) and Nicole Kidman (on the TV series Nine Perfect Strangers). Do they offer you much advice about acting and working in the industry? Do you seek that kind of advice?
“I don’t necessarily ask for advice, but find that I learn a lot from everyone I work with. It’s more about watching the other actors perform their craft rather than asking. I actually did ask Sigourney for advice while shooting [Kiah Roache-Turner’s upcoming horror film] Sting for a scene that references her famous Alien scene. It was so cool for Kiah and I to listen to her suggestions. He’s a big fan as well. Nicole is absolutely an amazing role model, especially with how she approaches each role and is so lovely to work with.”
School is such a busy time. How are dealing with the challenge of schooling and such consistent screen work, along with finding time for hobbies and friends?
“It’s tough during a big shoot because I have to catch up on schoolwork on the weekends, but I always try to balance it out with some fun activities. As I have become busier, I have had to drop all things that require regular participation. I’m no longer involved in school drama programs because I can’t guarantee that I’ll be able to come to each lesson. Thankfully I go to a performing arts school and they are very supportive of my career. I learn fun activities for projects that I am cast in. I have learned how to surf and skate recently. I hope to be in a film where I ride horses. It’s difficult missing friends but I always make new ones on set.”
You have appeared in some projects dealing with dark subject matter (Mr. Inbetween,Children Of The Corn,The Lost Flowers Of Alice Hart) – is it easy for you to walk away from that once you’ve finished your work for the day, or do some things stay with you a bit?
“I never walk away from set with any bad feelings. I get rid of them after the scene by tapping out with cast and crew, goofing around and having fun. I fully understand all of the dark themes in the shows I’ve been in. Sometimes I think that bringing attention to these matters (Lost Flowers Of Alice Hart and Mr. Inbetween) may actually help other people in the long run.”
Your bio says that you have other interests like animals, gardening and conservation. Are you certain yet that acting is what you’d like to do when you get older, or could you see yourself moving into other pursuits?
“I am certain I will stick with acting because I enjoy being on set so much. Having said that, I’ll always find time to do things I really want to do such as knitting, crocheting, surfing, skating, and owning a hamster and some rescue dogs. One of my main goals is to own and build a van to live in. It makes so much sense for my lifestyle being able to travel between jobs and having my home close to all filming locations (in Australia only of course. I will have to make two more vans for Europe and the USA, only kidding!) Not surprisingly, I got the van life idea while filming Eden and Nine Perfect Strangers in Byron Bay.”
Do you have any major influences, or people that you look up to in terms of your acting career? Any mentors?
“All of the directors I work with teach me about their own type of filmmaking. I can definitely see myself making films. I have already thought of some strong premises for a couple of post-apocalyptic settings. Every director I work with teaches me another aspect of filmmaking. [The Lost Flowers Of Alice Hart director] Glendyn Ivin and Sam Chiplin, his director of photography, work so closely together that their jobs would often fuse together. I learned so much from The Lost Flowers Of Alice Hart, but especially about cinematography. [Three Thousand Years Of Longing director] George Miller is one of the best writer/directors in the world; his storylines flow so smoothly. Some two-hour films can get repetitive, but because of the detail George puts into every second, his films are incredible to watch. Kiah Roache-Turner has amazing creative vision and brings such energy to the process. He is an amazing collaborator and would always be happy to change things from his original ideas if it made more sense. Matt Drummond was the first to show me some of the basics of filming, with camera angles, marks, and eye lines. He is also an amazing artist, storyteller and a VFX genius, which we will all see in The Secret Kingdom.”
What’s next for you in terms of projects? Anything that you can tell us about? Anything outside ofStingandThe Lost Flowers Of Alice Hart?
“I have a very exciting project out next year, but for now, my lips are sealed.”
The Secret Kingdom is released in cinemas on April 27. Click here for our review.
