IN CONVERSATION WITH ARIELLA GLASER

interview by JANA LETONJA

British actress Ariella Glaser will be leading Lionsgate’s feature film ‘White Bird’, premiering in US this October. She burst into the acting world at the age of 14 when she made her debut in Amazon’s ‘Radioactive’ alongside Anya Taylor-Joy and Rosamund Pike in 2019.

top and skirt YUHAN WANG
necklace SKOMER

Ariella, we’ll soon be able to see you in ‘White Bird’, the sequel to the smash hit film ‘Wonder’. Tell us more about the story of this film and your character Sara.

‘White Bird’ takes place in Nazi occupied France during World War II. It follows Julian finally hearing the full extent of his grandmother’s experience as a young Jewish girl in this period. My character, Sara, starts out as a typical teenager, with piano lessons, crushes on schoolmates, and a passion for drawing, but she’s forced into hiding to escape the Nazis. It’s a story about finding love and hope in the darkest times and I hope it’s one that will resonate with a lot of people.

How did you get cast in this film and how did you prepare for a role with such a heavy story?

I was cast during Covid and I had the privilege of meeting the director, Marc Forster, in person, but the crucial chemistry read with my co-star Orlando was over Zoom. How do you demonstrate an emotional fit with someone on an iPad? I guess it worked. In terms of the heavy stuff, my approach was to be myself as much as I could in between takes and save my emotion for when the cameras were rolling. 

What did you get to learn about history through this film, and what fascinated you the most about learning these things?

I discovered that one of my grandfather’s cousins was hidden in a barn during the war just like Sara. It gave me a sense of my own personal history that was chilling.

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skirt NANUSHKA
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What is your favorite story of Sara throughout the film?

I love drawing and so does Sara. I love that she found comfort during the most stressful times by drawing as I use painting to keep myself calm. Sara builds emotional connection with other characters through her drawings.

How powerful was it starring alongside such powerful women like Helen Mirren and Gillian Anderson?

Whilst we were quarantining on arrival in Prague, I watched all of their films I could find, and it was very intimidating. As a young actress with limited experience, their generosity was so reassuring. For example, Helen played every take completely differently to give the director options in the edit. This would never have occurred to me to do until I saw that. 

You made your acting debut back in 2019 in Amazon’s ‘Radioactive’. How has this role impacted your acting career?

It was the beginning of everything for me. I had never done anything on screen before and from that I got an agent and the confidence to continue. I also had the most amazing time on set working with Rosamund Pike and director Marjane Satrapi. Like ‘White Bird’, it was filmed in central Europe in the winter, so it would be lovely to be cast in a film that shot in a place with temperatures above freezing.

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cuff COMPLETED WORKS
bracelet SKOMER

What excites you the most about acting as a profession?

I’m a real film buff and it has the power to convey complex ideas and emotions in an entertaining way. Being on a film set is an incredible experience and seeing the craft behind the screen is amazing. 

What kind of roles would you like to star in next in your career?

I’ve always wanted to be in a detective movie and I’d love to get a role that would require me to learn a completely new skill, like sword-fighting.

Tell us more about your hobbies and how you enjoy spending your free time.

I am a huge football fan and I love to read books. I love hiking and some of my best holidays have been walking with friends in the countryside, and often getting lost.

What can you share with us about your upcoming plans and projects?

Can’t share anything just yet, but I’ve got some exciting things coming up so stay tuned. 

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bracelet VIVIENNE WESTWOOD
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photographer BARLEY NIMMO
styling SARAH HARRISON
hair CHAD MAXWELL at STELLA CREATIVE ARTISTS
makeup ANDRIANI VASILIOU at STELLA CREATIVE ARTISTS using ANASTISIA BEVERLEY HILLS