Having recently walked away with the ‘Best Actress’ title at the recently concluded Film Awards 2015 for her role in “Que Sera”, we catch up with actress, teacher and mother of 2 kids, Michelle Herft, about her big win.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Well, I studied drama at a very young age. I went to St. Bridget’s Convent where I continued to pursue my interest in drama and later I got accepted into the University of Kelaniya where I did a special degree in English. Now I teach English Literature at a school because teaching was my calling.
What are you currently doing in life?
I teach! Other than that I enjoy taking part in any form of drama, production work or acting. As of late, I started being involved in cinema after my role in Karma which gave me a huge boost.
How did you get into theatre and cinema?
My mom got all 3 of us (my siblings and I) involved in Speech and Drama. When you are young you don’t really know what you want to be and I really didn’t think I would be an actress one day! I got involved in theatre and cinema partly because my mom forced me to and because I had a love for it. I got into it when I was in school but as an actress I matured in my talents towards my late 20’s.
Was it difficult to break into the Sri Lankan drama industry?
Well, first of all it’s a great experience I don’t know why more people don’t get into it! For me it really wasn’t that hard to break in because I wasn’t really trying to. Back when I did a bit of modelling, Prasanna Jayakody noticed me and approached me for a role in Karma and when he asked me I was intrigued. It was a lifetime opportunity and such a huge leap. I believed in him and I gave up my job with the support of my husband who said that if I felt I had to do it, I had to do it. What was difficult was that in a drama, your movements are a lot more exaggerated but in a movie it’s so much more subtle and there’s a lot of emotions in trying to capture the feelings of the audience. It was so much more and very real in a sense.
What does acting and drama mean to you?
Teaching is my passion but acting completes me. I won’t consider myself an ‘excellent’ actress but acting is an outlet. It helps me be so many other people and that’s the great thing.
Congratulations on your win at the Film Awards! How does it feel to be the Best Actress of 2015?
Oh it’s a HUGE deal. I was nominated last year for Karma and I didn’t get it so I thought I’m not going to get it this year either but when my name was announced I was so nervous I wanted the earth to open up and swallow me because I’m shy and I can’t handle public speaking!! But yeah, it was difficult to come to terms with it but now it has sunken in so I’ve accepted it.
Who has been your biggest inspiration in your career?
I do look at peers for inspiration. I go for plays and Sinhala movies. There are a couple of movies that moved me like ‘Thani Thatuwen Piyabanna’ and ‘Pawru Walalu’ – I’m completely taken back by the actresses because they put all of us to shame! I like to watch movies where the woman is of stronger character, I have no time for movies where the woman is just a sex symbol.
Do you have a pre performance ritual?
I get into character and I go through this stage where I can’t eat before a performance. I would go into a corner and get into character, think about my lines. I take it very seriously so I push myself!
You’re also a literature teacher – why literature and not drama?
I taught drama as well, but see the thing is I wanted to teach Literature because my degree is on it. So there’s so much I can teach the kids. As a teacher I want to make them into responsible mature children and I can do that through a text because when a child understands what you are trying to say you can change their personality.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I hope to achieve a little bit more. I’m happy with what I’ve achieved in the past 10 years so just a little bit more. In 10 years I want to be in a happy place.
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DD says:
Nov 30, 2015 at 12:00 am:)