LINA REINHOLD TALKS THE PARTY

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

How did it happen that you got this first big role as Smilla?

I have been a member of the website Filmcafé for many years, where you can search for roles, extras, and other assignments. In the winter between late 2019 and early 2020, I traveled around Australia and stayed with a family where the mother, among other things, was involved in acting. I remember we talked about how I wished I could act too but that I had not yet dared to apply for anything. I simply hoped that someone would find me and reach out, which is relatively unlikely without previous experience. The day I returned from Australia there was an email in my inbox from a casting director at SVT. I could not believe it, but I had promised myself that if I got an opportunity I would take it. So I did. I sent in a self-tape, advanced in the process, and went to a casting in Malmö. A week later, I learned that I had advanced to the final casting, and some time after that, I found out they wanted me.

Maria Karlsson Thörnquist has been described as a director it’s easy to be spoiled by, your co-star Sophia Martinsson even called her “the world’s best director” when I previously had her on as a guest. How did you find working with Maria?

I must say I was very nervous about meeting the director and how we would work together. I was probably most nervous about living up to the expectations placed on me and what would happen if I did not quite meet them. But Maria had everything I wished for in a director. She is structured and encouraging, provides guidelines and most importantly, she tells you when you do something exceptionally well. I think at that moment, for me it was very important to feel that you'd rather be spoiled with compliments than the opposite. It also should be noted that many of us had never acted or had a role of this scope before it, so having these qualities in Maria were definitely crucial for making the outcome as good as possible.

How similar or different is Smilla to you. Or if nothing else, to how you were at that age?

I think it is hard for me to stand behind or play Smilla based on how I am or was at that age. When I analyzed Smilla and tried understanding the why she is the way she is, I drew parallels more to other people I had around me in my teenage years. Smilla and I are hardly alike, but I have had manipulative people in my surroundings, so what I tried to do was simply understand them and base my performance on what those people would have done, said or reasoned, regardless of whether it hurt anyone else.

Do you find yourself most drawn to the kinda roles that are different from you?

I don’t think I have ever really aimed for a certain type of role, but rather just ended up here. The role of Smilla I applied for, as mentioned before, through an email. I would like to say I would have applied for that role in that email regardless if the role was like me or not but on the other hand, I can’t say that for sure. In elementary school, we were going to perform 'Cinderella'. Everyone wanted to be Cinderella, a good fairy, or even a mouse. I could have considered those roles too, but somehow they didn’t make a big impression or stand out. Of course, I offered to play one of the evil step-sisters. So with that said, maybe subconsciously, I’m drawn to roles that stand out and are different from me to experience what it’s like to be that. I would still call myself the opposite of being the evil step-sister, or Smilla, for that matter.

As an young actress who is just starting out, can it feel difficult to pursue the roles you truly want rather than those simply available, especially when casting do tend to typecast actors who are still this early in their careers?

This is something I have definitely thought about. I understand that it is easy to cast actors based on what they have done before, simply seeing it as a winning concept. After the role of Smilla, I’ve thought about whether my next assignment will be a similar character. But I also feel a personal responsibility to look beyond this category of characters. Furthermore I think this period, right at the start, is especially important to show different qualities. If it later turns out that I do this type of role best, I see no obstacle in that even though it would be fun to try something else.

You still have all the time in the world to slowly explore different types of roles, do you have a clear idea of the roles you do want?

I do not have a clear picture of which roles I might be best in, but I’ve thought that I would like to do a vulnerable role or a role with strong emotions. Simply to explore how far one can go as an actor. On the other hand, I see this character as the absolutely hardest to play, but how does one develop if one is not faced with challenges?

What do you think and feel about the whole audition process. Are you comfortable with it?

I have probably never been so nervous as I was before the audition for the role in 'The Party'. But in a way, it is this nervousness and excitement that I crave. When I step out of my comfort zone, I know I grow as a person. After this audition, I went to another, and I must say I wasn’t nearly as nervous. Granted, it was for an extra role, but it feels good to become more comfortable with it, even if the nervousness itself will never completely disappear.

You mentioned performing 'Cindrella' in elementary school. Were you a “theater kid”?

I was definitely a theater kid as a child. I have been told that once, at a zoo, I sat by a tree in despair with crocodile tears running down my cheeks, sobbing and shouting, “Why does no one care about me?” while just looking at the wolves. So yes, I sought attention. As I’ve gotten older, that side has toned down, or perhaps it just does not show outwardly as intensely. But if I am in a group where I feel safe, you can count on that little “monkey” inside to reappear.

What was perhaps the first role you played?

It must have been the evil step-sister, if not a rabbit in kindergarten, but probably not, I remember playing the evil step-sister very clearly. And I must say that it is wonderfully funny to look back on so many years later, considering that I more or less ended up there again in the role of Smilla.

Are you afraid that you might outgrow it someday. Or do you think you will do this for the rest of your life?

Right now, I’m studying to become an engineer, and I want to complete that, even though I hope to have some acting assignments on the side. However, I know I’m constantly looking for new challenges, so it’s not impossible that I’ll take breaks from school or continue afterward because I think the interest will always be there. I think I got it from my dad, he’s fifty-nine, and he is now very envious of me. More than anything, he also wants to do something related to acting, so yes, it’s in the blood. An opportunity like this and just getting started, I will definitely make the most of it.