FILM INTERVIEW: TEHMINA SUNNY
Singer-Songwriter-Turned-Thespian Works with Clive Owen, Ben Affleck, Josh Harnett
If every actress with stunning good looks who arrived at LAX and trekked a few miles northeast to Hollywood could find a way to land credited roles in films starring the likes of Clive Owen, Ben Affleck, Josh Harnett, Neve Campbell, and John Goodman, perhaps every single new film or television show would feature a fresh new face every week. Then again, there are only a select few who can share such stories. British-born Tehmina Sunny is one such person.
A singer-songwriter-turned-actress, Ms. Sunny is currently in Israel shooting a film. Before her journey to the other side of the world, Ms. Sunny spent a few minutes bantering with this scribe at a local hotel in West Hollywood. After reading some of her thoughts of where she came from and where she wants to go, be sure to check out some of the films her name is attached to, such as Children of Men (with Mr. Owen), Argo (with Messrs. Affleck and Goodman), and Singularity (with Mr. Harnett, Ms. Campbell, and Bipasha Basu).
Parimal M. Rohit: What are you working on nowadays?
Tehmina Sunny: I’m just about to go to Israel to start another film. It’s called Amazing Love. I’m playing a character that existed 700 years Before Christ, so she’s actually a Biblical character.
PMR: Interesting that you are playing a Biblical character! Looking forward to that film as it nears! But let’s take a step back for a moment. You’re originally from England. Tell us about your life before you headed west across The Pond...
TS: In London, my passion was music. I was in and out of bands (and) girl groups for years. (Laughs) My music was a little bit more edgy. I used to love dance music, and I used to incorporate sort of a dance edge to my songs. And then I thought, "Hmm, I am always writing different songs; why don’t I pop into an acting class?" After all, it’s a character. You’re putting yourself into a character when you are doing a song. It progressed. As a singer-songwriter, you really don’t make much money. So I was like, "What can I do to be able to make some money?" I contacted an agency who was taking some commercial work.
PMR: What happened there?
TS: I gave them a picture. It wasn’t even a headshot -- it was just a photograph, because I didn’t even know what you needed to do -- that you had to have a proper picture. But they contacted me and asked me to come in, and I did. They asked me, "Do you mind reading this?" and I just read it. Then they said, "Sorry, we don’t want to take you on commercial stuff." I was, like, "Oh well, thanks for seeing me. I’m really sorry to have wasted your time." And they were like, "Oh no, we want you as an actress!"
PMR: Of course, you end up taking the gig, right?
TS: I just thought, "Let’s try it. Let’s see what happens." So I went headstrong into immersing myself into classes, reading books, going into the theatre... I was always a movie buff growing up, but now I started analyzing them. It kind of revolutionized my life, in a way.
PMR: All this happened in London, right?
TS: Yeah.
PMR: So what finally brought you across The Pond?
TS: One of my first projects I got was Children of Men (with Clive Owen and Julianne Moore). That was like a real-life acting class. If I wasn’t shooting, I would just be there watching. The whole crew was really cool with me doing this.
PMR: Now that you are here in Hollywood, what is the path or journey you want to create for yourself?
TS: I just love working, to be honest. Each project that I do, I always learn a little bit more about myself or about something. It keeps me fresh, it keeps me challenged, and I think that is very important for me in what I do.
PMR: It’s interesting to be an actor today, because now we see so many crossovers between television and film. More and more, A-list film talents are shifting into television, where programs have plots and production value that are on par with cinema. What are your thoughts on that? Do you see yourself switching back and forth between television and film? Is there a preference in acting on the big screen instead of small screen?
TS: I can’t speak for others (about preferring television over film), but for me, absolutely not. TV scripts are now so strong and punchy, and you follow (the character’s journey). It’s great because next week you’re going to find out what happens more, and you get more and more involved with the storyline. There is something very exciting about that. It’s a roller coaster you are going to be on for a period of time.
The next phase of Ms. Sunny's roller coaster will be in 2013, when 'Singularity' hits movie screens. Be sure to keep an eye out for Ms. Sunny, as she is sure to be next in line of top-flight Indian actresses making it big in Hollywood.
