First published on 21 Apr 2011. Updated on 22 Apr 2011.
Twenty-two-year-old Sophie Hensser is no stranger to the stage, having spent much of her childhood backstage in adulation of her actress mother.
Now it’s her time to take to the boards. We met up with Sophie on her home turf in North Bondi, just days before she started rehearsals for her mainstage theatrical debut in Griffin Theatre Company’s Silent Disco.
Sophie, you were exposed to theatre from a very young age. When did you first appear on the stage?
My mum (who is also an actor) used to cart me around; I would be part of her luggage and go everywhere with her. I was a toddler. My mum was doing a production of [Neil Dunn’s] Steaming in Adelaide. It’s quite a confronting play. I used to sleep in the dressing room, and one night I woke up and head people in distress. I walked out on stage in the middle of the performance and had to be pulled off by the assistant director.
So acting was the obvious career choice for you to make.
I have very distinct memories of everyone saying, “Are you going to be an actor like your Mum?” And Mum would always be the first to chime in and say. “Absolutely not!”
But I always knew I loved performing/ I loved creating and I loved becoming different characters. I would always get good marks in Drama without actually having to try that hard and I felt quite lucky in that sense. But it never really clicked that this is something I should pursue as a career choice – it was just something that I loved doing. It was fun, it was easy and it didn’t feel like work.
You haven’t had any formal acting training since high school?
My parents both said to me, “If you really wanted to go to drama school, you have to get a real degree first.” I did a Media Arts and Production degree at UTS which had a production element of film and documentary, that made me realise that, in the future, maybe its not just acting that I’ll want to do, but maybe producing.
But I was introduced to my agent first year out of school. A stint on Home and Away got the ball rolling, and I was doing guest spots here and there in independent theatre.
A lot of people started telling me, “You don’t need to go to NIDA if you want to be an actor because you are already working.” It does scare me that I haven’t had what you would call formal training, but I do a lot of my own research, read and take classes. I always want to better myself as an actor. But it will work out: learning on the job.
So how would you describe your approach to performance?
Director John Sheedy gave me the best piece of advice I have ever been given: tell the truth. No matter how you approach a scene or how you approach a character, the first and foremost thing you have to do is think, what is the truth for that character at that moment? It’s about being honest, because if you’re not being honest then people can see straight through that.
What challenges do you face as a young actor?
There are a lot of female actors in my age group who are more experienced than me going for the same role. So it’s about bringing something different to the table and not getting disheartened by the competition. If you are ready to do the work and you are right for the part, then something is coming for you.
What made you audition for the role of Tamara in Silent Disco?
[Director] Lee Lewis approached me about a year and a half ago to do a live reading of the play when it won the Griffin Playwriting Award. I fell in love with the play and the character Tamara, and I knew that I had to play this girl and I didn’t want anyone else to have it!
The beginning of a career on the Sydney theatre mainstage?
I hope so! I feel so lucky to be involved with any production. You just have to focus on the project you are working on now. If the work keeps coming and if people like what you do then that’s amazing and it’s a blessing.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
People often ask me, “Do you want to go over to LA for pilot season?” And yes, of course, that is what every actor has to aspire to, to get to the world stage – but it’s not something I think I will chase at this point. If it comes to me, that’s amazing, but right now I want to focus on establishing myself here.
Anyone in particular you’d like to work with?
Oh god. [Laughs.] Tim Burton. [Laughs more.] I think he’s an absolute genius.
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I saw Silent Disco at the Hothouse in Albury / Wodonga. Sophie Hensser was brilliant. What a great future she has. No formal training but already one of the best.
Posted on Sun 19 Jun 2011 08:07:39
I agree Nat, she was brilliant. I am amazed by this interview - that she has not had much formal training since she went to school. You can tell a natural by their performance - when you are totally involved in their character - when Tamara was off stage, I wanted her back on. Big things coming for this one I reckon...
Posted on Mon 06 Jun 2011 15:30:30
Saw her in silent disco - astonishing performance and brought tears to my eyes...
Posted on Mon 06 Jun 2011 10:56:12
Love the article
Posted on Thu 02 Jun 2011 17:05:01
She's beautiful!
Posted on Wed 27 Apr 2011 18:30:17