DAKOTA VOLKER TALKS WHILE THEY WERE SLEEPING
"Acting became a way to explore that"
Daniel John
'While They Were Sleeping' opens with a woman waking to an unthinkable scene, her husband shot beside her, with even the closest soon suspecting her?
I was hooked from the opening scene and the tension never let up. On my first read I kept going back and forth on who I trusted as the pressure continually closed in. That constant feeling that something wasn’t right is what pulled me in emotionally, not just what was happening, but how isolating it felt for Jess as she tried to make sense of everything. By the end, I was excited to dive deeper and bring that tension from page to screen.
You give such a strong performance as Jess. What kind of a investigation went into playing her, the daughter in this scenario?
Thank you, that means a lot. With Jess, I focused heavily on what it feels like to constantly question your surroundings and the people closest to you. She’s dealing with the loss of her dad, so she’s vulnerable in a way that makes everything hit harder. I wasn’t playing the mystery as much as I was playing her confusion and instinct. Every interaction felt like it carried a double meaning, and that tension really guided my choices.
She's a quick thinker. Did you find her as quickly as she would have found you out?
I don’t think so. Jess is incredibly intuitive in a way that comes from being forced into survival mode. I had the benefit of stepping away from the situation, she doesn’t, she has to trust her gut in real time, and that urgency is what made playing her so challenging and exciting.
Was there any particular scenes that posed an interesting exercise in the craft, emotionally or technically?
I would not say there were specific scenes, it was more about understanding her emotional arc and finding the balance between grieving her dad and still aching for life to feel normal again. Some scenes did not make the final cut but they really helped shape that balance for me. Jess is constantly trying to stay strong, for herself and for the people around her, while also wanting to blend in and hold onto some sense of normalcy as a high schooler, that push and pull was what guided my performance more than any one moment.
What was it like cultivating the mother and daughter-relationships that we see on screen?
Alicia and Natalie, who played my biological mom and stepmom, were amazing. Both are such seasoned actors, and I would honestly go to set just to watch and learn from them. Alicia was a huge support during the really emotional scenes, especially on the longer days, and we were constantly encouraging each other. That trust and care carried into the performances and I think it really shows in the mother-daughter dynamic you see on screen.
How did you first get into acting?
I’ve always been drawn to storytelling and understanding people and acting became a way for me to explore that. My love for acting really began in elementary school when I landed my first leading role as Jane Banks in a theater production, and that early experience sparked something that stuck with me. What started as curiosity, quickly turned into something I couldn’t imagine not doing. I pivoted towards film and tv and as I learned more and trained it began to feel like home, a place where I could be curious, vulnerable, and constantly growing. As a kid I turned to movies as a way to escape and to explore new worlds. And now I’m driven by the hope of creating that same experience for others through my work.
It’s intriguing to think about where your role choices will lead next, what kinds of stories and characters would you no doubt say yes to. Do you like to do all of it, or what do you hope the future holds?
I’m especially drawn to genres like horror, psychological thrillers, and action-adventure, where emotion and storytelling collide, and I actively seek out roles that challenge me and push me creatively. I also really want to do comedy, I love the freedom of it and the way it lets you play and surprise people. I have always dreamed of stepping into a fantasy-world too, something adventurous and bold, like an Elizabeth Swann-type role, where there’s growth, grit, and a real sense of agency. Honestly, I’m open to anything and everything right now. I don’t feel the need to do it all at once but I do want range. I’m excited by projects that take risks, challenge me and scare me a little, in the best way. Ultimately, I hope that the future holds stories that stay with people long after the screen goes dark.
You’re also working on a film as a writer and director, what can you share on it at this stage?
I’m really excited about it. It’s a super exciting project and my first time stepping fully into the writer-director role, which has been both terrifying and incredibly rewarding. I can’t say too much just yet, but it lives in the psychological thriller space and explores fear, isolation, and what happens when your sense of reality starts to crack. Working behind the camera has given me much more of an appreciation for storytelling as a whole. It’s pushed me to think about story, tension and character in a much deeper way, and it’s definitely influenced how I show up as an actor. Right now I am focused on telling the story with intention and care, bringing what's on the page to life. I’m really excited to share more soon.
Will you be wearing all three hats and acting in it as well?
Not on this one. I’ve learned just how much goes into wearing multiple hats and for this project I wanted to give my full attention to the story behind the camera. It’s been really rewarding to focus on writing and directing and to create a space for the actors to fully shine. I’m excited to showcase their talent and support the performances in the best way possible, and stepping back as an actor on this project has actually deepened my respect for the craft even more.
