Words by Carol Wright | Photos courtesy of Project Four PR
We got to chat with actress Sydney, well-known from her performance in V-Wars, about how she chooses the projects she wants to pursue. You can see her most recent work in the TV series Departure.
What initially got you interested in acting?
I ended up at a school for the arts sort of by circumstance and my drama teacher there really made me fall in love with Shakespeare. I found a home on stage there and with every passing year I became more and more inspired. I found I was really coming alive when I was performing. It was a slow burn. It seemed very self-indulgent to me at first. But when I realized the effect that art can really have on people, I became so enamored with it.
You’ve been in a diverse set of projects. How do you usually go about choosing your roles?
I choose roles that I find I relate to. Roles that inspire me. Roles that challenge me. I pick projects that I think are important and are telling interesting, honest, thought-provoking, relevant stories. Beyond that, I do my best to never play the same character back to back. I don’t want to get comfortable. So If I’m working on a particular character, then when I’m looking for my next project, I’m looking to go in a different direction. I want to keep stretching myself and growing, and I think that’s the best way for me to do that at this time.
You’re in the upcoming series Departure. Can you tell us a bit about the series and how you got involved?
The series is about a plane that goes missing as it’s flying into Heathrow. It follows the stories of the people trying to solve the mystery of the plane and the families affected by the missing plane. It is a lovely, heartfelt, complex show. I actually was just about to finish filming season one of V-Wars and TJ Scott, who was my director for my first episode of V-Wars and was in my callback for V-Wars, happened to be directing Departure.
As we’re wrapping up on V-Wars, I got a call that TJ wanted me to audition for Departure. I went and did the audition, then a month later went in for a two-day chemistry read and got the part! I was thrilled to be reunited with TJ! We work so well together so I knew it was going to be a fun project and a great set.
In the series, you’ll be acting alongside Archie Panjabi and Christopher Plummer. Were you nervous to be working with them?
This was the craziest thing to me. I don’t know if nervous is the right word but I was in awe. So absolutely honored. When I was maybe 13 I went to Shakespeare School at Stratford and I saw Christopher Plummer play Prospero in The Tempest. There was a moment he was in the aisle right beside me and I remember looking up at him in awe thinking, “That’s what I want to do. I want to be as good as him one day.” He inspired me so deeply. I still have the program from that show.
I had been watching Archie on The Good Wife for years with my parents and she is just electric. So I definitely had so much respect for them. They were both so incredibly lovely and gracious. It was a dream come true for me. More so than I can explain. I worked more with Archie and she was just a dream to work with. So kind and patient and generous. She made me feel so comfortable. It was better than I ever could have imagined and it was just really a full circle moment for me working on this project with them. I’ll never forget it.
What about V-Wars interested you? What can you tell us about your character Ava?
V-Wars deals with a lot of very real social and political issues in a bit of a tongue in cheek way and I love it. It’s also just such a severe show. They don’t pull any punches. The female characters are so incredibly and unapologetically strong. They are so well written and so flushed out. To me, I couldn’t resist that. Ava is ambitious to a fault. And she lacks tact. She’s young and she’s had a hard time. She’s very emotional and she can be impulsive but she desperately wants to build something, she wants to create a legacy for herself. She wants to find her power. Her journey is just amazing to see develop.
What did you learn from working with Ian Somerhalder?
Ian is the most incredibly passionate person I’ve ever worked with. He is so hardworking and so disciplined. He’s an incredibly intelligent man and he really does do it all. For me, I learned about time management from him, about the importance of being able to maintain that level of focus. How to be present. I learned how to compartmentalize things when need be, which I was terrible at before, but that really helped me to not get overwhelmed. I learned how to take control of my work. I learned so much about the other sides of the industry about the reality of what it takes to balance this industry and a family and a business. So much. He’s an incredible mentor. I feel I really did some of my best work ever on this show thanks to him and his guidance.
Outside of acting do you hope to get involved in other aspects of the tv/movie industry in the future? (ie: writing, producing, directing, etc.)
Yes absolutely. I’ve started writing already. I hope to get into directing and producing. Ian was kind enough to let me shadow him for three days while he was directing and I learned so much during that process. I also learned that I have way more to learn before I’m ready to direct. So I’m working towards that. I’m educating myself. Really trying to get ready for that opportunity and learn from the amazing people around me. My first step is definitely writing. That’s the thing that comes easiest to me. I’ve had some directors/writers I’ve worked with this past year be kind enough to take me under their wing and guide me. I’m so thankful for that and I’m learning so much. Baby steps.
What advice do you have for aspiring actors?
Make sure this is what you want to do and know why you want to do it. Be patient. Know it could take a lifetime. Make sure you love it. Study study study and find joy in that process! Surround yourself with good people. The better/smarter a person you are, the better/smarter an actor you are. Take care of yourself. Know yourself, really. Have fun!