Eliza Scanlen: ‘I’m at this weird age where l’m still getting jobs for 17-year-old girls who have never kissed someone’

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– but looking back now, she realizes she could have benefited from a few more years of experience.

She isn't particularly suited to the discomforts that come with being famous.

This reminds me of the person I met today, who comes across as completely genuine and down-to-earth – no pretenses or airs to speak of – and she's even without a purse. Scanlen shows up wearing a black puffy jacket and a denim button-down shirt. We both awkwardly apologize when she goes in for a hug at the same moment I extend my hand. It's all very unglamorous, which is exactly how she likes it. The thought of moving to LA elicits a groan from her; she prefers living in London, which she says offers a nice balance between her remote hometown in Australia and the bustling film industry of California.

Growing up in Sydney, Scanlen had a twin sister named Annabel (who shares the same name as her) and an older brother. Her parents founded a thriving storage facility business called Storage King in the city. During her school years, she took weekend classes at Nida, a prestigious performing arts college that has produced notable alumni like Sarah Snook and Cate Blanchett. Unbeknownst to her, no one in her family had any experience in acting, except for a distant cousin who was a screenwriter. Despite the lack of a clear path to an acting career, Scanlen didn't have any doubts about her future. "It's that wonderful time when you don't have self-doubt," she says with a laugh. "I was like, this is going to be a breeze!"

I walked into the green room one day and the scripts had arrived and they told me I had to kiss someone," she says. "I freaked out completely. I was terrified. I almost gave up on acting." In the end, she managed to get through it; now her standard for taking a job is how much it scares her. "It may sound strange, but the more scared I am, the more fulfilling it is.

She was able to identify something in Scanlen that directors would go on to use in her future roles. Now, she continues to get parts that play off her perceived kindness and her ability to quickly switch to a more complex character, because while it's easy to compare her short blonde hair to a halo, what's even more interesting is the subtle curve of her lips that hints at a darker side.

in which she plays a 17-year-old girl whose religious beliefs are challenged when she begins a forbidden romance with her handsome 28-year-old youth pastor.

She prepared for her role by listening to Siobhan Finneran's podcast to mimic the actor's northern accent. It's a challenging accent for her, especially considering how rarely she gets to use her natural Australian accent.

In addition to that, Scanlen tried not to study too hard for the part, as she had a habit of doing in the past. "I tend to use research as a security blanket to ease my anxiety about a role if I worry that I'm going to struggle," she says. "In recent years, I've come to realize that it can be quite limiting. Obviously, there are some historical elements that influence your acting, but sometimes those things can get in the way. As Violet, Scanlen takes on a more menacing and confident persona, one that's more openly ruthless. It's clear that she's enjoying the change. "I'm at an awkward stage in my life, too, where I'm 26 but I'm still getting cast in roles meant for 17-year-old girls who have never been in a romantic relationship," she says. "I love coming-of-age stories, but it's starting to feel like it's getting further and further away from me."

After a week of intense partying, known as Schoolies, which is a tradition for Australian students after taking their final exams, her voice was rough and strained. "The first thing Jean-Marc says is, 'Shit, your voice sounds really different…'" Scanlen recalls, chuckling at the memory. In the end, she brushed it off by saying she was just getting into character. "I told him, 'You know, I'm crazy. I party hard like my character Amma!' So it ended up being fine in the end."

Eliza Scanlen was circling me. It was very unusual. I wasn't quite ready for it and I don't think I really grasped the enormity of what was happening; it was quite frightening.

The actress Saoirse Ronan, who was co-starring in the movie, also noticed it.

"I was talking with Saoirse's mom recently and we were talking about the past, and she told me that Saoirse came home one day after rehearsals and called her mom, saying, 'Mom, I met this girl who's playing Beth, and I think I need to take care of her on this film. I think I need to look out for her.' And that's exactly what she did," Scanlen recalled. "I think she saw herself in me at that age and she knew how the industry can be." Today, they're close friends. "Whenever I have a problem or am unsure about something, she's the person I go to," Scanlen said with a smile. "Also, when I just feel really frustrated with the industry." Her friendship with Kiwi actor Thomasin McKenzie has also been a source of comfort.

The more frightening it is, the more enjoyable it can be.

The film, in which Scanlen plays a schoolgirl with cancer who falls in love with a drug dealer, showcases its alluring qualities.

She is outgoing and confident; her hair is cut just above the shoulders.

The director, Antonio Campos, had a negative experience with wigs.”

There were rumors about him being a method actor. Scanlen laughs. "It's so funny," she says. "He really wasn't a method actor; we'd always be laughing between every take. He was a bit uncomfortable with the idea of us getting ready - but he's really a sweetheart. He's one of the least serious people I've ever worked with."

Scanlen does make a valid point about method acting, which echoes what Natalie Portman once said - it's a luxury women often can't afford. "We're not given the freedom to do that kind of thing," she notes. "We tend to make excuses for men's behavior, but not as much for women's."

As someone who has worked their way up from the bottom of a call sheet, Scanlen is in a great position to point out that film sets can be "grossly" hierarchical. "And at the top, when you have that kind of power, it comes with a responsibility, so if you see something you should speak up about it," she says. "I've definitely had experiences where I've been at the bottom as an actor and it's very disempowering; there was a pressure to just get in and out and not cause any trouble." Scanlen says she has spoken up on her own behalf and on behalf of others in the past. "I'm trying to get better at not sitting on it for so long," she says. "When you see something, you need to have the confidence to say something in the moment."

The new series, "Dope Girls," will start airing on BBC One on February 22nd, and all episodes will also be available to stream on iPlayer.

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