We had an opportunity to chat with Jade-Marie Joseph. Check out her interview below.
You’re at the beginning of your career as an actress. How has the journey been, thus far?
I first wanted to be an actress at the age of three years old. I saw a film starring Shirley Temple, and told my mum ‘I want to do that!’.
Mum then put me in BubbleGum Stage School at the age of five. I was there for a short while, and then enrolled at Sylvia Young at age 12, and then at 15, I starred in a play at the Hampstead Theatre (Snow White- I played the witch/queen), where I won a Jack Pethcy Award, after being nominated by cast members. But it was at the age of 19 that I really took acting seriously and joined the Tricycle Theatre Young Company.
The journey, so far, has been great. I have been busy with different projects and getting to know and work, with so many talented people in the industry, which has been highly rewarding.
Being able to transition from stage to camera, and to alternate between them is amazing for me, as I have never wanted to limit myself to one thing.
You have a background in filmmaking. Let’s talk about one of your short films, LIFE: How We Live.
I started filmmaking becasue I’ve always wanted to create a project of my own. I have loved film from a young age, and imagined me one day making my own. It all started for me watching Transformers. I was so engrossed and inspired by it. I later went home and wrote a storyline for a fantasy/sci-fi film.
Fantascy, sci-fi, and action are my favourite genre’s, but I’m a sucker for anything with a good storyline that keeps me in awe.
I do love documentaries, hence, why I made LIFE: How We Live. It is also a subject that is very close to my heart. I had enough of watching ‘urban’ programmes in all its negative light, so I decided to film something based on urban culture, but show the other side. As far as I was concerned, 9 times out of 10, what we were being shown in the media is not like that in real life, it is only a part of it. Through LIFE: How We Live, I conveyed the normal and positive movements.
The film focused on urban culture that is close to your heart. Are there any other stories you would like to tell?
Urban culture is a topic that is close to my heart, simply because it is the culture I’m surrounded by. So, I care when I see it being depicted in the way the media want to negatively portray it as. I still have plans to tap into urban culture, but this time it will be fictional.
I have two scripts, which I’m planning to do some time this year or early next year. There is one project, which I am really excited about, it is a love tragedy and will be made into a short film. It’s true to life and hard-hitting, and is a scenario that a lot of people will relate to.
When you’re acting, tell us what experiences you draw on to play the role.
A lot of roles I play are quite serious and dramatic, so I draw a lot of emotion from emotional recall, which helps me to cry on cue, if needed – although, it doesn’t work all the time. But through years of training on various courses and learning on the job, all helps to ‘pull out’ the required skills for different types of roles.
There are certain roles that require a more in-depth approach, for example mental health; this would need proper research – really taking the time to know your character inside and out, and doing what is necessary, to make that character genuine and true.
Let’s talk Catalyst. It is currently in pre-production, so we know you can’t say much. Can you talk about your role in the film?
My role in Catalyst has completely changed from the short film, Remembering Amy, which is great, because there are so many levels to her, and she is holding in all these secrets. Because of this, ‘Amy’ goes through such a jouney throughout the film, so by the end of it, I am feeling like ‘wow’!
Working alongside Ryan Ralp Gerrard, Lily Mae McGregor, and Antonia Toohtill, is just the best thing! They are super talented, and we have so much fun when we are together. I bounce off them so well, which makes my job of doing ‘Amy’ a lot easier.
The dynamic of the characters is what is also great about the film, and that is all down to the fab writer Elizabeth J Cassidy aka Fabuliz! She has written a real gem and bringing these characters to life is going to be SICK!
You also have another film that released. It’s called Remembering Amy. Tell us about the film.
This film was created while myself and others were on a short course. We only had 11 days in which to make it. Hence, Remembering Amy was born. We were really happy with the results, and felt we made something so good in that limited space of time. Because of which, we are now on to Catalyst, so I am extremely pleased with that whole process and where it has brought us to today.
What has been your favorite performance to date?
My faves, so far, have been The Forty Elephants, written by Nadine Woodley. I played the role of ‘Janelle’, which was quite a challenging role for me. I was a gang leader of an all girl gang from South London.
With this role, I had to dig deep within myself and find my inner ‘Janelle’ (haha), which was aggressive, but caring and someone you wouldn’t want to mess with. It was a role unlike any other I had done. However, it is very similar to my most recent play, in which I star as a feisty, Hispanic New Yorker, named ‘Boochie’, in Den of Thieves written by Stephen Adley Guirgis.
In this production, I’m one of the four crooks who steal 750,000 dollars, not realizing it was tied to the mob. It’s a dark comedy, and was extremely enjoyable, the funniest production I’ve done to date.
What types of roles do you hope to be cast in the future?
I would love to be cast in a fantasy or sci-fi film, and would not mind being cast for a role in a a marvel comic film. I think that would be an absolute dream. I am also really into psychological thrillers, with roles that I could really get my teeth into.
A good TV drama is something that would definitely have my attention, if the script is what I’m looking for then that’s an area I would delve in.
Thus far, what has been the best experience working in the industry?
Other than the favourites that I have mentioned previously, I had a great time working on the short film Morning Glory, written by Robert Bertrand and starring alongside Bianca Beckles-Rose. It was a film based on two best friends going their separate ways in their chosen paths. My character ‘Tanya,’ is going off to the army, but delivering the news to her best friend is hard, because so much things will change. However, ‘Tanya’ has her own personal reasons for joining the army, and it is rather heartbreaking.
Robert was a fantastic director, who really tried to make us dig deep and find that raw emotion and transfer that on screen. For me, being one of two female leads, was an incredible experience, it made the production even more poignant and beautiful.
Morning Glory will be released very soon!
Another great experience I have had, was being part of the Tricycle Theatre Young Company, where I remained for three years. I learnt so much there and it was such a great platform for me. The Tricycle was so accommodating and took the ‘Young Company’ very seriously. It is a part of my journey I will never forget.
What do you like to do between productions?
I love to take trips to the cinema and catch up with the latest movies, and I love to travel, experiencing other cultures and having fun!
If I don’t have any acting jobs on, then I might book myself in for a short course or do some acting workshops, or filmmaking workshops.
When I really want to let my hair down and just enjoy myslf, it has to be clubbing, clubbing, and clubbing all the way!
Do you have any upcoming projects that we haven’t mentioned?
Other than Catalyst, I’m going to be in a new chat show show titled, Candid Conversations and Cocktails, created by Kibibe Bailey. It’s an exciting new YouTube show launching in spring this year. It that documents a group of five women venturing around London. It’s reality TV meets studio set, and we are bringing the studio to bars and restaurants. There will be discussions on real situationships, giving advice, and talk on trending topics. The backdrop being a different bar location for each show.
I will also be starring in a one woman show later on this year as ‘Carmel’, in A Woman’s World, written by Tony Hyland. It’s about a woman battling with mental illness, and trying to get the help she so desperately needs.
Complete this sentence, if I had an opportunity to do anything I want, I would do ___________.
I would love to work in Hollywood, and eventually go on to own my own production company and put out some powerful, entertaining and captivating films. To also be able to cast actors, who are up an coming in the industry with exceptional talent, but find it hard to be recognized in the industry. Many of us know just how hard it can be, to be given prominent and decent roles, most of which are generally given to actors with a big name.
Other than acting, I would love to work with animals and do voluntering with them on a wildlfe reserve. I would love to be involved with nature retreats, so to work on a nature documentary would be amazing.
Connect with Jade-Marie Joseph:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jadem_actress
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jademjoseph
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm6927438/?ref_=nv_sr_1
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