Words by Carol Wright | Photos courtesy of Advantage PR
We got to speak with Dana about her experience playing a young Emily Dickinson in Wild Nights With Emily. You can see her most recent work in the hit Netflix series Greenhouse Academy.
What initially got you interested in acting?
I can’t pinpoint the exact moment I knew I wanted to be an actor, but from the time I can remember it was always something I knew I had to do. It was a sort of second nature feeling that only grew stronger and stronger. I remember always making up these ridiculous characters to make my grandma and grandpa laugh. I loved to pretend I was James Bond and act out these dramatic death scenes, usually while we were in public. I was a ham. So when I realized I could be doing that on a much larger scale for a much larger audience other than my family, there was no looking back.
How did the opportunity to be in Wild Nights With Emily come about?
Funny enough, I think I initially passed on the first audition because of a scheduling issue, and then it came around again as I was on my way to another audition. They needed the tape by the end of the day, so I rushed to my mom’s work, set up a camera in a tiny broom closet, and taped the audition. I think it was the next day or so that I was skyping my callback with our director and the rest was history.
What drew you to the character of young Emily Dickinson?
I think what I love most about the movie is that Madeleine did a really wonderful job showing Emily in two pivotal moments of her life which are explored tonally throughout the film. So what drew me to Young Emily was her sort of awkward coming of age disposition versus Molly’s more lively—though, not without her quirks—passionate, Adult Emily.
Did you learn anything new about Emily Dickinson through working on the film?
Yes! I had absolutely no idea that Emily Dickinson was gay! In fact, the majority of people I talk to don’t know either. It’s fascinating. And what’s really interesting is that historians are so hesitant to label her that way. But the proof is in her poems. They found erasure marks on her letters and poems where her lover’s name once was. Susan’s name was even replaced with a man’s name in some instances. I had absolutely no idea until I read the script and did some deep research. When you read Emily’s poems it all makes perfect sense.
Were you an Emily Dickinson fan before joining the project?
If I wasn’t before I certainly am now. Emily spent her whole life dedicated to her poems and worked tirelessly to get them published, to no avail. She wrote nearly 1,800 poems and only about seven were published in her lifetime. In part because she was a woman and her poems didn’t rhyme. But the fact that she stayed true to herself is awe inspiring. I’m just so lucky to be a part of this film and shine a long overdue truth on her life and talent.
You’re going to be joining the hit Netflix series Greenhouse Academy. What about the show interested you?
I’m so excited to be joining the Greenhouse family! I’ve never been on a project where I was able to work with actors my own age, so to be in that environment was a blast. Taking over a role can be a little tricky, but this season’s Emma really comes into her own and I’m really excited for fans to see this new version of her.
Outside of acting what other areas of the film industry do you hope to get involved in?
I’ve been writing since I was 12 and am currently working on a TV show as well as a feature film. Writing is something that has always been a passion of mine almost as much as acting has been. I’d love to explore producing and directing in the near future as well, but for right now writing and acting are keeping me nice and busy.
What advice do you have for aspiring actors?
Honor the work. If it was easy, everyone would do it. But if this is what you’re meant to do, and you believe it without a shadow of a doubt, work hard and don’t stop until you make it happen.