Actress Fiona Vroom has quickly made a name for herself in the entertainment industry for the diverse and engaging characters she brings to life on screen. She has worked alongside the likes of Christoph Waltz, Nicolas Cage, and Vera Farmiga, she’s been directed by Tim Burton and Justin Lin, appeared in numerous television productions and featured in films such as “Power Rangers” (Lionsgate) “Star Trek Beyond” (Paramount), and “Big Eyes” (Tim Burton). She is currently starring alongside Jennifer Connelly and Daveed Diggs in TNT’s Snowpiercer, based on the critically acclaimed graphic novel and 2013 film. Occhi Magazine had the pleasure of speaking to her about her colorful and creative career, on and off the camera.
Hi Fiona. Thank you for granting the interview. Congratulations on your career so far. You trained in dance for years, and went on to study at the Canadian College of Performing Arts, under the direction of Jacques Lemay, Please share your experience at the School?
Being at the Canadian College of Performing Arts was the best time of my life. I never really fit in at high school, so when I went away to college, I felt like I had found my tribe. Finally, I was surrounded by people who spoke my language. I made friends who I am still connected to today, and it helped mold me into the performer I am today.
How easy was the transition from dance to acting?
It wasn’t easy. As a dancer, our way of storytelling is by using our whole body, but that doesn’t always work in front of a camera. I had to learn how to harness all my physical energy so it worked for film. I studied acting for years after my theater career and learned to become friends with the camera rather than shy away from it. And to treat the camera like a scene partner, instead of an obstacle.
You’ve appeared in numerous television productions including Nickelodeon’s ‘Are You Afraid of the Dark’, Netflix’s ‘Altered Carbon’, Amazon’s ‘Man in the High Castle’, Fox’s ‘The X-Files’, BBC America’s ‘Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency’, A&E’s ‘Bates Motel’ and AMC’s ‘Hell on Wheels’. Which of these roles has been the most fulfilling as an actress and why?
One thing I think of when looking at all the roles I’ve played is that in one way or another, they are all extremely smart, powerful strong women. From portraying Hanna Strobridge in ‘Hell on Wheels’ (a mother to nine children) to Barbara Beaumont in ‘The X-Files’ (an aging 1960’s sitcom star). Strength in femininity is something I always strive for when representing women on screen. Even when playing Carla, a concubine in ‘Man in the High Castle’. Finding her strength, rather than playing her as a victim, was the most interesting journey.
In 2014, you produced the web series ‘The True Heroines’ which received two Leo Award nominations for Best Actress and Best Series, the latter of which took home the award. What attracted you to the opportunity of producing this project?
I co-created, wrote, and starred in this series. The reason I wanted to tell this story is that I truly believe that women ARE the superheroes of today. The series is about 1950’s housewives with superhero powers who are running from the evil corporation that created them. I love the 1950’s and I’m fascinated with that era and how women were portrayed in that time and I wanted to break all those molds. Producing came to me at a time in the Canadian film industry when it was very slow. Productions were fewer and far between. It was much harder to find work. Unlike today, we have Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, Facebook, Crave, and all these other platforms of distribution that didn’t exist when I first started in film and TV. So I had to create my own show. I’m not the type of person who can just sit and wait for the phone to ring, oh nooo. I’m way too bossy for that. I like having control (at least a little) over the stories I’m
telling.
‘Mi Madre, My Father’, starring Stephen Amell (The CW’s “Arrow”) and Michelle Morgan (CBC’s “Heartland”) was selected by Telefilm for the “Not Short on Talent at Cannes” for the Cannes Film Festival short film corner. How much of an impact has this experience had on your career and approach to filmmaking?
This was a great experience. It opened my eyes to how international this industry is. There is an entire world of filmmakers out there, and everyone is in the same boat (looking for financial support and distribution) I’m so glad to have experienced a huge market like at the Cannes Film Festival, and I can’t wait to go back there.
There seems to be a growing number of actresses exploring roles behind the camera. Is the industry more encouraging of actors also being directors and producers?
I wouldn’t say it’s more encouraging at all, no. You have to prove that you can do the job just like in the acting world. And there are always 10 other people (usually men) who are in front of you. There has been a huge wall that women ahead of me have had to break down. Women have to work a lot harder to get those directing positions. I thank the women who have managed to break through and sit in the director’s chair. I’d like to do it myself one day.
You have a comprehensive portfolio of work in film and television, working with Tim Burton, Christoph Waltz, Nicolas Cage, and Vera Farmiga to name a few. Are there any major figures in the industry you’d particularly like to work with and why?
So many. Seth Rogan. I love comedy and he’s from Vancouver, my hometown. I’d love to collaborate with him. Wes Anderson. I love the look of his films. Director Bong Joon Ho. His portrayal of class, in all his movies, is inspiring and important.
You appear as Miss Gillies in TNT’s ‘Snowpiercer’ alongside Jennifer Connelly and Daveed Diggs. Please tell us more about your role and what we can expect?
I auditioned for the role in Vancouver, B.C. where the show shoots. My role is Miss Gillies, she is the school teacher on board Snowpiercer. She is from the second class car, and she is prim and proper. The series is really about resistance and fighting for what you believe in. There is a communal tone of loss on board the train. People lost their families in the big freeze and are now “trapped” on a train for the rest of their lives mourning the world as they once knew it. And there is a class system in place that is no longer working for everyone, and a revolution that is about to happen to change how things have been running for the past seven years. The set is amazing. All the train cars are built from shipping containers and can be lined up so you feel like you are really on a train. It’s really cool.
Do you have anything else in the pipeline we can look forward to?
I’m in season one of Amazon’s ‘Upload’. And I hope to go back to shooting a series for Global TV once the pandemic passes.
So where can we keep up to date with your activities?
I’m on Instagram at @fionavroom
About Author
