NIKITA FABER TALKS INVASIVE
"I was blown away by the brilliant writing"
Daniel John
From the Emmy-nominated mind of Jem Garrard, 'Invasive' is a “eat the rich”-story going sideways, as young people using catering as a way to get into rich people’s houses this time stumbling upon the unimaginable. What did you first think when reading this nail-biter of a script?
When I first read the 'Invasive' script in its entirety I was blown away by the brilliant writing. The excitement of being cast in such a delightfully complex and thrilling film started to sink in. I knew virtually nothing about it when I auditioned in studio so it was great to be able to piece everything together and to have more clarity in regards to Lara’s place in the film.
What clarity did you find?
I really placed myself in the shoes of a young woman so desperate to earn a living. Her circumstances and reasoning will always be my little secret, but that’s really what helped me find her. Everything else just flowed as we started shooting the scene and I certainly felt the heavy weight of driving out to the middle of nowhere, desperate to make ends meet and then realising that I, as Lara, was in a very dangerous situation.
Did the small aesthetic changes to the character, adding the tattoos or changing the hair, help you get the character to where you needed her to be?
Costume is imperative to finding the character and no doubt, one of my favourite facets of my job. Lara’s costume was so much fun. I love pink and it just solidified her character. I, as myself, don’t have any tattoos and I’ve never had eccentric colours put on my hair and yet I loved the look so much that I didn’t want to step out of costume. The tattoos were tricky to get off and I secretly really liked them so I let them sort of peel off at their own pace and all I can say is they definitely made me feel differently and people look at you somewhat differently too. That was, in itself an interesting acting experiment.
Speaking of getting into a costume for a role, what was set life like stepping into the 'Yellowstone' world as Rebecca in '1923'?
Oh wow, '1923'! I yearn for an experience like that again. It was everything you could imagine and more. It’s just like time-travelling! I always thought I was born in the wrong era, so I was in my element. After-all it’s not everyday that one gets a glimpse into what life might have been like in the nineteen-twenties.
How did you get into acting, when did you know that you wanted to be an entertainer?
Since I was a child I knew that I wanted to be an entertainer. I started out passionate about singing and then later on I fell in love with film. I knew that it would be a difficult and long path to take but I have the passion and the persistence to see it through it’s darkest days and to be honest, I’d never forgive myself if I gave up. I booked my first role, Daphne in 'Six Headed Shark Attack', two years after deciding to take that professional leap. Each year that has passed since then I have become more clear on my work vision and I’m more dedicated than I have ever been. Acting is a part of my life every day, and I couldn’t imagine my life any other way.
What is the allure in having acting as an outlet?
The allure of acting for me, personally, lies in my passion for people and the stories that they carry. If I could somehow understand every kind of character, the good and the bad, I will certainly try my best to do so. And of course, the thrill and the excitement of being able to step in and out of different characters. I’m never bored!
So, what different characters is it that you are passionate about stepping in and out of?
I'm very open-minded and I would embrace all that comes my way but I would love to play a villainous character in the future, just because it’s further from myself and I love a good challenge.
