“I look for characters I can really sink my teeth into and roles that are challenging. Since I’m in school (which I care about very much), a new project has to check a few important boxes.”
Chloe Coleman
Photography: David Higgs @Higgsy_Photography / Stylist: Enrique Melendez @MrEnriqueMenlendez / Hair: Michael David Warren @MD.Warren / Makeup: Allen Avendano @Allanface
Whether she is exploring Pandora, longing for her father to return from a trip to prehistoric planet earth, or surviving in a world where slaying dragons is a regular occurrence, Chloe Coleman is an up-and-coming actress you will see on the silver screen.
Coleman talked to NYOTA about choosing projects for auditions, working with Directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods in 65, and playing a weekly game of D&D with Dungeon Master Simon Alexander.
You’ve been acting from a young age. Did your parents originally notice that you had a knack for performing?
Yes. I had this wild blondish fro, and my parents say that I was pretty entertaining when I was little. I also had an intensity about things; for example, I loved to watch shows over and over and would learn songs and perform them. My parents noticed I could memorize large chunks of dialogue really fast. So, one thing led to another, and here we are!
How do you go about choosing which projects you audition for? Is there anything specific you look for in a script or creative team behind a film?
I look for characters I can really sink my teeth into and roles that are challenging. Since I’m in school (which I care about very much), a new project has to check a few important boxes. One of the first things I look at is if it’s written well. Also, there are certain directors I’d jump at the chance to work with, like Jason Bateman, James Gunn, Ava DuVernay, Jon Favreau, Taika Waititi, and Chloe Zhao, among others.
This month, audiences can see you in the film 65. What about the film interested you and made you want to be involved? The film was written and directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, who wrote A Quiet Place. Was it a very collaborative environment on set?
The idea of doing a film about another world sounded really intriguing. I had originally wanted my character to be pretty unusual, almost like an animal, but the style morphed away from that. I enjoyed working with directors Scott and Bryan very much, and they encouraged improv writing that experience will forever stick with me. They were collaborative and supportive, and that really lit a fire in me about making movies.
The game Dungeons & Dragons has a large and passionate fanbase. After getting cast in the film Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, did a lot of research go into learning about the characters and the lore of the game?
I wanted to know as much as possible about it, so we started a weekly game with Dungeon Master Simon Alexander. He’s so inventive, and he created these amazing adventures in great detail. My sister and I loved it. Filming the movie was actually like living in this incredible world with these fantastical creatures and limitless powers. It was a dream come true to be in a movie like that. I can’t wait for the world to see it. Perfect entertainment from start to finish.
It is pretty hush-hush who you’re playing, but can you talk a bit about the world-building for the film and how that helped you get into character?
My character Kira is the daughter of Chris Pine, who plays Edgin – The Bard. Family is very important to Edgin, and Kira ends up being an important piece of the puzzle. The massive world built by the directors and producer Jeremy Latcham made us feel like we were literally living in the world of Dungeons and Dragons, for real. The scale was massive, and the sets were by far the largest and most beautiful that I have ever worked within. It’s easy to get into character when you are surrounded by all that.
The cast is full of beloved actors and exciting up-and-coming stars. Was it a very energizing and fun film to be part of?
The core actors in Dungeons and Dragons are one of the nicest ensembles I’ve ever worked with. I loved hanging out with Sophia and Justice. Chris and Michelle are so talented and a joy to be around. And Rege – come on – nicest guy ever… at a screening, Rege made sure to tell my little sister that she was the star of the show! She’ll never forget that. It’s an awesome group of people.
You’re currently filming My Spy: The Eternal City. How are you preparing to step back into Sophie’s shoes, and what can fans of the first film expect from the sequel?
Oh my gosh, Sophie is a teen now, and it’s a whole different world for her. She’s been through a lot since the first film when she was 9 years old. And now, being a teenager, there are easily 10 major things I get to do that I’ve never done before in my life, and we’re just getting started! The prep has been about 15 months of martial arts practice and stunt training. I want to do as many of my own stunts as possible.
Between 2022 and 2023, you’re in numerous major motion pictures ranging from the Oscar-nominated Avatar: The Way of Water to Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. Do you feel that you’ve grown as an actress after working on these projects?
I pick each project because there’s something so incredible about it that I can’t pass it up. Either a location, a subject matter, or a professional in the industry I really respect. I would’ve done anything to work with James Cameron, Adam Driver, David Yates, the Dungeons gang in Ireland, and Emily Blunt… like when these opportunities come to me, I’m just 100% grateful, present, and enjoying every single minute. I try to give as much of myself as possible, and that way, I somehow feel I get the most out of it. I also get to meet incredible people along the way.
What advice do you have for aspiring actors?
Never give up, and whatever audition you are doing, make sure to give it your all. I guess I would tell actors not to get trapped “acting like an actor.” There’s a lot of noise/ distraction going around about trying to look gorgeous or fashionable or like a “star.” If you simply focus on the craft, then that’s really all that matters. For a photo shoot, sure, it’s exciting to dress up with full glam, but once they call “cut,” please give me my sweats, my cat and I’ll be washing my face as fast as possible.