Actress Aiysha Hart was touted by many as one to watch a couple of years ago and has arguably landed her big break with a lead role in BBC’s fantasy drama Atlantis. However, we’re certain that the 26-year-old is destined for great things in 2015, so thought we’d put in a reminder before her (already successful) career really rockets. A triple threat with model looks, a captivating presence and incredibly sharp (she studied at King’s College London), Aiysha is uninterested in courting celebrity, instead focused on taking on inspiring and challenging roles.
We spoke to the actress on the cusp of stardom about future projects, the portrayal of women on screen, her perfectly formed eyebrows and her adoration of Meryl Streep.
Atlantis has been a massive hit. How have both you and your character Ariadne developed since the start of the first series?
At the start of season two Ariadne becomes Queen of Atlantis, giving her the power and agency to enforce rules as opposed to merely following them. New sides of her character are revealed in every episode; the stunts and archery scenes have been a particular highlight for me this time around. But the role remains a delicate balance between fragility and strength. Ariadne’s weakness still lies in her love for Jason, and although she displays a hard veneer, she’s also vulnerable, and much more layered and complex – that’s how I try to play her at least.
Female protagonists are often characterised pejoratively and reductively as neurotic, dangerous or pathetic, and the men they relate to define them. But on Atlantis we pass the ‘Bechdel test’ in every scene between Pasiphae and Ariadne. Yes, they both love the same man, albeit in different ways, but that certainly doesn’t define their conflict. And it’s been exciting to play.
As a young, female actress have you been subject to any prejudice, typecasting or been frustrated by any limitations?
I often get asked what it’s like to be an actress of mixed heritage and whether that has affected my chances of success. My answer is that I definitely think issues of racial prejudice are a problem that needs addressing within the acting industry; and although things are slowly changing, it’s evident that ethnic minorities are not accurately or fairly represented on the screen and stage both in terms of numbers and diversity. However, having said that, I don’t believe my ethnicity has notably worked against me or held me back so far. I’ve been lucky enough to have played a number of varying characters and ethnicities within different genres. Perhaps that’s down to having an ambiguous look.
Being typecast is of course always a concern, but I make conscious decisions not to accept roles that could reduce me to a narrow casting bracket. And it’s also important to stress that every actor fears being typecast for a number of different reasons that have nothing to do with the colour of their skin their gender or where they’re from. It’s a difficult profession for everyone and we are all working against some kind of stereotype, whether physical or otherwise.
What's in store for 2015?
I’ve been asked to do a film that’s planned for early next year and I have yet to find out if we will be returning for a third season of Atlantis. It would be great to do some theatre again next year after such a long time, and I am looking forward to seeing what film scripts are in the works, particularly on the Indie circuit. But in the meantime I’m enjoying some time off!
What would be your dream role?
Jacqueline Picasso and Frida Kahlo led fascinating lives that I’d love to explore on screen. But I don’t have a dream role per se. I simply love scripts and characters that move and enlighten me. We all remember that remarkable moment or character in a film, or something that was said that touched us. There’s nothing better than being part of a project that has a wider purpose and significance.
Filming Honour, a movie about a British Pakistani girl whose family attempt to honour kill her, was one of those experiences where I felt like we were creating an entertaining movie that also had a political and ethical resonance. My character represented so many real women that had become tragic victims of honour-based violence. It’s very rare to encounter those characters and scripts that you totally connect with, but when you do find them it’s magical. So I wouldn’t want to limit the endless potential possibilities out there by wishing for one specific role, or wanting a part that someone else has already played. But obviously my eyebrows are primed for either Jaqueline or Frida, and they’re just waiting for the call.
Which actors have been your biggest source of inspiration?
It’s Meryl Streep’s universe and we just live in it. She’s the ultimate inspiration. To have had such a long and successful career and to still be growing, learning, challenging herself and repeatedly surprising audiences. Cate Blanchett is another actress I’m in awe of. Two younger, emerging talents whose career choices and work I really admire are Felicity Jones and Rosamund Pike. What I love about these women is not just the eclectic nature of their roles, but the focus and integrity by which they have approached their craft as well. Also, neither of them just landed in the lap of success, they have grafted and taken time to emerge and earn the roles they have played more recently.
What do you love and hate about the London acting community?
There’s a London acting community? If I’m being totally honest, I’m quite removed from any community apart from Instagram! I don’t really consider myself to be a part of any specific group. My friends always joke that I’m not very cool or down-with-the-kids. I mean just saying ‘down-with-the-kids’ means I’m not down-with-the-kids right?! It’s a vicious cycle. I just focus on my own journey and career and my growth as an individual as opposed to what everyone else is doing. So the London acting scene isn’t really something I think about or have much experience of. Also, the majority of my friends are people I’ve known for years and most of them aren’t actors, which is refreshing but also gives me perspective in an industry that can easily become insular. I find their jobs just as interesting as mine and they are all doing so well in their different fields, it makes me very proud.
How do you feel about the obsession with celebrity? Featuring on a primetime BBC programme are you daunted by the advent of fame and constant recognition or losing anonymity?
I get recognised now and again, but it’s usually a pleasant encounter and it doesn’t happen as much as people think; it certainly hasn’t taken over my life. There’s a difference between being famous and being a celebrity – one is a byproduct of your profession, the other you can court and make your profession. It’s just about deciding what you want from your career. For me it’s about creating characters and telling stories. That’s the good stuff; that’s the stuff I feel passionate about. It’s a cliché, but I think if you stay true to yourself and keep your closest close, then no one else’s opinions can define you.
CREDIT: Hunger TV
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