BÁRBARA BRITO TALKS ISLAND OF THE DOLLS 2

Interviewed by Culture Coast Talks editor Daniel John. Interview transcripts might have been edited for length and clarity.

A documentary crew visits the Island of the Dolls, where they run into Santana, a spirit inhabiting a doll, soon to be running for their lives. But not all might be as it seems. What is it that made you interested in asking for Santana’s blessing in ‘Island of the Dolls 2’?

When I first applied for the role of Tori I knew little about her or the story, only that she was an intern in a documentary crew and a big fan of Jo. It was only when I received the script that I realized Tori was much more than just an intern. I vividly remember screaming with happiness, excitement, and shock when I read the scene where Tori kills Michael and asks, "Did I do good, Dad?". I was thrilled that my first-ever role would be a turning point in the story. I read the script from start to finish in one sitting and realized I was going to have so much fun playing Tori. It also became clear the challenge I was going to face when delving deep into Tori's psyche to understand her actions and motivations.

Are you a horror fan?

While I wouldn’t say I'm a fan of watching horror films I've always wanted to be part of one, especially to play the "villain", because I believe those roles are the most complex to explore and I love the challenge. For me, acting is about the journey to become the person I'm playing, so I'm always fascinated by the path you have to take to understand individuals who are labelled as "bad people".

How did you see Tori?

Playing Tori was until now the most rewarding role of my acting career. To me the magic of playing a someone who does "bad things" is finding the "why" behind their actions. As I got to know Tori, I saw her as a sensitive girl, who is fundamentally scared of failing, not just in the eyes of those she loves, but also to herself. She's driven by a deep fear of not living up to her own expectations or those placed on her by others, her whole life revolves around her father and her sister. But unlike her sister, who always seemed to get more love and attention from their parents, Tori’s efforts often went more unnoticed. Their mother left when they were young, and Tori tried her best to fill those shoes, especially for her sister. It hurt that her father never seemed to appreciate her efforts but she knew that her greatest power was her ability to care and protect. And that is why when her sister died in an accident partially caused by Tori, she felt compelled to do everything she could to bring her back, even if that meant going to extremes.

Unlike most other characters in the film, your role is very much based on playing against your own type. Tori is supposed to come off as very sweet and innocent looking, but as things unravel, we see her in a different light, how did you find that. Was it freeing playing a role that went against expectations of looks?

Playing Tori was especially meaningful for me because it provided me with this opportunity to show the audience that there are no such thing as bad people. There are only individuals, individuals shaped by difficult circumstances and insecurities that sometimes has lead them astray. Portraying Tori allowed me to convey how complex and misunderstood someone can be, serving as a powerful reminder to never judge someone by their appearance alone. Playing Tori was definitely very challenging because I got to play someone that is the opposite of what I thought my cast-type was, the innocent and sweet girl. In the process I found a new, more complex version of myself as an actress that I would love to explore further in the horror genre.

Any particularly fun day on set, despite all of the horror?

'Island of Dolls 2' was my first-ever time on set so it is incredibly hard to choose just one moment that stood out, one thing that I'm most grateful for is the people I got to meet and work with. Everyone from the cast to the crew was the reason I loved this experience so much. As a new actress I was not aware of the pace of a horror film, the intensity of shooting days and all the things that go into making a film. Of course, you learn all these things in acting school, and I definitely knew about them, but living it is different from knowing about them. The truth is, everyone was so welcoming, professional, and kind that I never felt that tiredness, stress, or any other feeling typically associated with being on set for the first time were overpowering my happiness and gratitude for being there. I am very passionate and love to learn as much as I can from every experience but I was not expecting to find people open to sharing their passion and their knowledge about their craft. Besides, I had so many fun moments I’ll never forget.

I also loved shooting some scenes in particular. The campfire scene for example, was such a memorable one because even though it was freezing cold and raining. Everyone was around the fire wrapped in blankets, doing what we love the most. Another scene, that stood out for me, was the scene where I do the ritual with my father, that was my very first scene I shot in a film ever so it felt very special especially because it was such a crazy and intense scene that meant so much for Tori. I’m forever grateful for having the chance to be part of this film and for meeting the people that shaped my first experience into the most beautiful memory.

I heard there was dancing on set?

The highlight for me definitely has to be all the singing and dancing we did while not shooting, with the 'Dirty Dancing' flying move being our best accomplishment, thanks to Tom for making sure I didn’t fall!

Things have a tendency to move fast in this genre, how long after you were cast in the role were you already on set?

I was cast for this film in April, right after I finished my Acting for Screen course at MetFilm-School. We started filming at the beginning of August giving me a few months to prepare for it which was really invaluable. Especially amazing since it was the first film I was going to be in. During this preparation time, I worked closely with my acting tutor, Arkie Reece, and the director of the film Andrea Cantinella. This collaboration allowed me to really dive deep into my character, explore her backstory, and connect with her on a deeper level. We wrapped up just one week after the first shooting day so it has now been a little less than a year since then. The entire experience, from preparation to wrap-up, was intense and incredibly rewarding, marking a significant step in my acting career.

Though this is your first feature film role, how long had you been acting before this role?

I started my acting career at MetFilm School where I did a six month acting for film-course that completely changed my life. I felt like I was finally doing something I loved, supported and challenged, the whole way through. When I first started that course, I only knew that I wanted to follow this path but I left with a huge box of tools to succeed in this industry. I’m forever grateful for all the opportunities I had in the course but especially for the chance to learn from incredibly talented people like Arkie Reece.

An actor must never stop learning?

I do still continue to take weekly classes with Arkie because each one helps me delve deeper into this craft. For me he's more than a mentor, he's the foundation of my acting career and the first person I turn to for guidance and support. As I said before, I got my role as Tori in 'Island of Dolls 2' right out of that course, so it was my first-ever acting role, very fresh into the industry with only six months of learning beforehand, but very eager to enter the industry and give my very best in every project.

A Portuguese actress, in London. Did you grow up in Portugal before moving?

I grew up in Portugal and moved to the UK in 2019 to study media and communications at the university, once I finished my degree I had a real heart to heart with myself. I realized I was not passionate about what I'd been studying, and it was time for a change. Deep down, I’d always dreamed of being a screen actress but it felt more like a fantasy than something I could actually pursue, one day I decided to put my happiness first and my fears aside, and I enrolled at MetFilm School.

Would you want to act in Portugal?

Since my decision to pursue acting came after I moved I’ve never actually acted in Portugal. But I definitely want to change that as I believe being an actress is about constantly pushing myself. I think acting in both Portuguese and English would not just help me grow professionally and personally, it would also open more doors in the industry. Plus I’m really curious about what it would be like to portray characters in my mother tongue. I think it could bring a depth and relatability to the words that I’ve never experienced before.

Have you had time to wrap anything else since you were on the set of this film?

Since I wrapped 'Island of Dolls 2,' I've had the opportunity to be part of another horror feature film called 'Sallem Witch Doll.' In this film, I got to play Jemmy, a role so different from Tori but just as fun. Jemmy is a protective and loving girl caught in the middle of what might seem like a normal family at first, but as things unravel, they reveal themselves to be very twisted, hiding dark secrets and unexpected behaviours. She acts as a daughter, a sister playing a maternal role to her three brothers and a cousin to Sarah whom she deeply cares for and tries to protect. Additionally I had the chance to be part of three short films, 'Hotel 304', 'War Cares Little,' and 'Girls Club.'

What are your roles in them?

In 'Hotel 304' I played Lila, this film is an emotional portrayal of how hard and lonely it can be for a young girl to discover herself amidst the complexities of the world around her, then in 'War Cares Little' I played Isobel Hawkes. This is an award-winning short film, that critiques the lack of care for war veterans, the one size fits all approach to rehabilitation, and the lingering effects of war. And finally, returning to horror, 'Girls Club' follows Allie, whom is the character I portrayed on her journey to seek revenge against the man who abused her by joining a cult of girls who share similar traumatic experiences as her own. All of these films will be available very soon. And I’m very excited to see what everyone thinks about them since they were all so different yet so special in their own way.