Vancouver based Rhona Rees is a seasoned performer and filmmaker with more than 24 years of experience in front of the camera and behind the microphone. Rhona has been nominated for a 2019 Voice Arts Award for her performance as ‘Bev Gilturtle’ in Hasbro’s “Littlest Pet Shop: A World of Our Own”. We caught up with Rhona to talk about her career and nomination.
Hi Rhona, Thank you for granting the interview. You have a successful and blossoming career. Your first role was at the age of 11, in the film “Rainbow’s End” alongside Australian Actor Ernie Dingo. Please tell us about the experience?
I loved every second of it! I had been bursting at the seams to act for the camera from a very young age. My Mum found out one of the school parents ran a talent agency for kids and signed me up, probably so I’d stop bugging her. Rainbow’s End was my third ever audition – I remember she picked me up from school camp, whisked me straight into the car and said ‘you have a call back for the movie’. I walked in, probably a bit on the ripe side of things now that I look back, and did a bunch of improv for the callback. Maybe I booked that gig because I hadn’t had the time to over-think, over-rehearse or worry about it. I was happy from camp, Mum had fed me a muffin, and I was good to go!
I learned so much on that shoot – I’d never had any training, so I listened and watched everyone on set. The director was very kind about teaching myself and my co-star about protocol, hitting marks, finding your light, continuity, and all those delicious ingredients that go into acting for the screen. I was tutored on set, made friends with a bunch of 30-year-old crew members, and I never looked back. It’s crazy to me to reflect that my first gig was so long ago that the hair and makeup department were using literal polaroids on set. And I used to receive my sides via a fax machine that we had because my Mum worked from home. Wow. I’m old.
You’re nominated for a 2019 Voice Arts Award for her performance as ‘Bev Gilturtle’ in Hasbro’s “Littlest Pet Shop: A World of Our Own” Please tell us about the role?
This was my breakout role in animation. After moving to Vancouver to pursue my acting career in 2012, I’d always wanted to work in cartoons but it took some hustling. I had years of commercial experience, but just a few guest roles and some indie projects on my resume for animation. Then one snowy morning in December, I walked into KOKO studios to record a commercial and noticed auditions were happening for Littlest Pet Shop. I was so keen to audition – even though my agent told me she had submitted me and their schedule was full. So after I got client approval for the commercial I had recorded, I decided to stay a little longer…eventually, the director looked at me and said “Are you here to audition? You’ve been waiting for a long time.” I replied “no, but I’d love to read for you if you have time!” and the rest, as they say, is history. I learned so so much voicing Bev, especially since the first thing we recorded was 20 digital shorts, which were mockumentary-style episodes hosted by Bev – this meant I was in the studio with a rotating roster of Vancouver’s top voice artists. Actors who had coached me and whose careers I was tracking in admiration. Those few days were a very steep learning curve! When it came to recording the series it was such a joy. The writing was so good and the characters were all so fun and wacky. The cast became like family, and Mondays (our recording days) suddenly became my favorite day of the week. Bev herself was so fun to bring to life. She just wants to be the best little box turtle she can be, and she can turn any negative into a positive. My new year’s resolution that year was to be more like Bev!
You’ve had a string of appearances including Netflix’s “Wu Assassins”, Lifetime’s “Abducted: The Mary Stauffer Story”, and Hallmark’s “Mystery 101: Words Can Kill”, “Summer Love” What has been the highlight of your ‘on camera’ career to date and why?
Do I have to pick just one? My role as Inspector Alice Riley in Wu Assassins has to be right up there. My character was possessed by a very cheeky and very masculine spirit, so I got to behave in a manner usually reserved for men. I loved it! I performed stunts with Katheryn Winnick (what a badass), and controlled the power of electricity with my bare hands! The Mary Stauffer Story was an exciting one because I worked with Alyson Hannigan, who was incredibly down to earth and fun. Lastly, I’ll sneak in a mention of Winnie, my character in the short film ‘Shuttlecock’ – this one is dear to my heart because I created and pitched the story and character in collaboration with the writer/director, Melanie Jones. It was incredibly creatively satisfying to bring to life my own character for a change!
My previous question referred to ‘on camera’ because you’ve also provided your voice talents to the Cartoon Network’s “Mega Man: Fully Charged”, and Marvel’s “Absolute Carnage” to name just two. How does voice acting compare to being in front of the camera?
Though the skills required are very similar, voice and on-camera acting are very different. As different as theatre vs on-camera performance. I love both and feel so fortunate that I work consistently across-media. One thing I love about voice is that there are fewer restrictions on the characters I can play. A plucky turtle with a thirst for learning (Bev)? You got it. A cheeky robot who loves pranks (Chaotique)? No problem. A dim-witted 11-year-old hench-girl to an evil grandma (Gwen)? Comin’ right up! These sorts of roles, and working on kids’ shows allows me to use my imagination in ways that we are told not to as adults. I firmly plan never to grow up!
What other projects should we look forward to seeing you in?
I have a couple of voice projects coming out in the near future but I am unable to talk about them at this moment. And my next short film is a dark comedy set in the not-too-distant future called FREYA. It was my first screenplay that I wrote solo and, incredibly, I won a $20k funding grant from The Harold Greenberg Fund and Creative BC to make it! I will be starring in it, Camille Hollet-French is directing, and I’m very excited to bring this world to life.
Where will our readers find out more about you?
Twitter: @RhonaR
Instagram: @rmer
Facebook: @rhonareesactor
And for FREYA updates:
Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram: @freyathefilm
The Voice Awards take place this Sunday, November 17, 2019. We wish Rhona the very best with her nomination.
For further information on the Voice Arts Award click here
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