Splash! INTERVIEW WITH MELISSA LIANNE WOODS

English actress Melissa Lianne Woods will soon be heading to LA to work on her latest project, the feature film ‘Did you think I’d be back?’ As well as playing the lead role of Nina, this will be Melissa’s first foray into writing (she wrote the entire script alone) and producing. In the film, she will play a young lawyer whose life is turned upside down when her partner has an affair, setting off a chain of events that can never be undone.

Celebrating a bright future ahead…

So Melissa, tell us how this project came about…

I’ve always loved writing. With my children’s book series ‘Lissy’s World’ being so successful, as an actor, writing a script seemed to be the most obvious next step.

I’ve actually got a law degree, I studied at the University of London, so the storyline itself really came from that whole experience. I think one of the things that I found hardest, or that didn’t sit right with me about studying Law, was that sometimes the person that the Law is meant to protect, isn’t protected. I wanted to explore the idea of right and wrong and a person not getting the justice that they deserve.

The entire script was written and redrafted in about a week. Once my pen hit the paper, it just seemed to flow with new ideas and twists and turns. It probably turned out easier than anything I’ve ever done before and I can’t wait to get to work on it.

What does this project represent for you?

It’s a huge moment for me. I think we are seeing more and more actors diverging from their craft. I remember recently speaking to an acting coach and complaining that there didn’t seem to be any roles out there that were a good fit for me. His response was simply ‘well, write your own!’ It’s amazing to see so many actors, actively getting involved in writing, producing and directing their own projects as a vehicle for themselves. It certainly beats waiting around for the right opportunity to knock on the door.

Tell us more about your role within the movie… Do you have anything in common with you character?

I think because I wrote the character of Nina, there are definitely some elements of me that I have put into her.  Aside from having a law degree, Nina is very driven. Her career comes first, above everything. As an actor, I’ve had to do the same. I’ve worked tirelessly for years (like all actors); audition after audition, acting and voice classes, additional jobs to support my income. So, I think relationships and friendships have suffered as a result and my social life has been sacrificed completely, in order to pursue my dreams.

Also, there are some terrible things that have happened to Nina and choices she has had to make, that are completely out of her control. This is definitely something I can relate to. I’ve had some rough times over the past few years and I’ve just had to ‘roll with the punches.’

What challenges do you think you will face with this project?

This project is going to be a massive learning curve for me. I have been an actor for a while now, so I’m quite comfortable with that aspect of things but producing will be a complete new ballgame for me. I think parts of it will be easy; I am a very, very organised person and run a ‘tight ship’ but I’m going to have so much to learn and I’m literally going to be thrown in at the deep end. Everyone is going to be in the same boat on this project, so it’s going to be an ‘all hands-on deck’ approach.

Which actors would you like to have worked on this film with?

It’s funny, writing a script you do have certain people or certain actors in mind, for different roles. But really, I’d like this to be an opportunity for actors who haven’t had a break yet to get a chance to work on a feature film. Fresh talent, new faces and a great energy; that’s what my vision is for this project.

There has been a lot of criticism lately about ‘quantity over quality’ on the likes of Netflix and other streaming channels. What do you think about it?

I think that the industry is evolving and changing. Going way back in the past, there were fewer movies because it took such a long time for them to make. Now you can literally shoot a movie on a mobile phone. The pace of the industry is changing and it’s not necessarily that there are no quality movies anymore, it’s just that you can make something just as good, in less time.

The emergence of the likes of Netflix is keeping other studios on their toes to provide the same amount of content. As an actor, the best thing about there being more content is that there are more roles available. So that can only be a good thing.

 Recreating the ‘Friends’ opening sequence…

Posing outside ‘Carrie Bradshaws’ apartment…

What movies/TV shows have you watched and loved recently?

I feel like I have been so busy and working so hard recently that my concentration for watching TV or movies is very limited. So as much as I want to get into a new or popular series, such as ‘Game of Thrones’ or ‘Line of Duty’, at the moment I would struggle to commit. What I have been doing is watching reruns of shows that I grew up watching; ‘Sex and the City’, ‘Friends’ …the classics! These programs are timeless; I still remember them word for word and it’s a great way to switch off and relax at the end of a busy day.

If you could give our readers some advice and inspiration…

I think one of the biggest lessons I’ve learnt recently is to just appreciate the present moment. It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey that takes you there. As long as you learn along the way, it doesn’t really matter where you end up.