Exclusive Interview with Natasha Mashkevich- Actress
NY Glam: Tell us a little about yourself, growing up and your passions.
I was born in ex-USSR, Kirghizistan. Central Asia, many people don’t have no idea of where it is on a map. It makes me smile. Indeed, when I look back in time, I think of that great journey of mine. A little girl from Bishkek, immigrated to Israel in the ‘90, then to Belgium and finally moved to France. This little girl lived the Gulf War, and many other tough things, she too became tough. In Israel she decided to become an actress. And she never gave up. This little girl grew up, learned several languages, studied acting with great directors and teachers, and worked hard. Acting is her passion. Theatre, cinema, acting again! Then came the writing and the theatre staging, and finally the film making…
Currently, I live in Paris, with my husband and my two wonderful kids. Without forgetting my four-legged friend, Iktam.
NY Glam: What are you currently working on?
Unable to live without the theatre, I’m working on a new contemporary theatre play, preparing a new role for a feature, writing my new film and developing a documentary feature I’ve been working for a while. The project tells the creation of a concert, conducted by my father, Ilya Mashkevich, through the story of my immigration journey.
NY Glam: What made you take this role?
My encounter with Victoria Yakubova, the director of Olma Djon, was the trigger. Vica contacted me, we’ve met, we realized we had many things in commun in our journeys. It was amazing. And there are no chances. We both were born in Central Asia, immigrated to Israel then to Europe…I’ve played in Sarah’s Key (by Gilles Paquet-Brenner) and Victoria’s husband Hervé Schneid was the editor of the movie. Vica and I, we had many people we knew in commun, but we never met. And Olma Djon was the luck! I loved Vica’s universe, her previous work, the script…And I was really happy to take this role. I’m very grateful to her and to the Universe.
NY Glam: What journey does your character go on in the course of the monologues?
My character doesn’t speak. And that was very exciting and challenging for me as an actress. All the journey of the character, her emotions, her inner monologues, had to be shown through the eyes, the body…the acting. I should rather become the character than to play it. Vica helped me a lot with the character’s journey, we’ve rehearsed before the filming, we’ve spoke a lot, and during the filming she was completely 100% with the actors. It’s very important for me, to be guided by the director. Searching, moving forward, being in the process.
NY Glam: Tell us a little bit more about this film, what is it about, who else are you working with, and who is the director, producer, writer?
For me the film is about love. And Family. About loving our inner child. It’s about healing. Going back in our mother’s womb and then relive. For me, there’s a sacred form of “family”, union and love. Like the Trinity. Bolot, Sara and Sholpan unite at the end of the movie.
I used to work with Jordan Beswick, a wonderful director and writer. We’ve done 2 theatre plays together. One of them is an original one woman piece “Our Lady of Perpetual Donuts’’, written and directed by Jordan. The play is based on a true story of Edna, who went through terrible things in her life and eventually survived.
I love working with Jordan and this piece has a strong message. It’s important for me to be able to express my ideas, my thoughts and the causes I defend, through acting and projects I do.
NY Glam: What is the most challenging role you have played and why?
The role of Sara, in Olma Djon. The role is very strong, very demanding. Because she doesn’t speak. She feels a lot. She’s going through a difficult journey in her life, to finally get out and be stronger than before. She has to find (again) her femininity, her motherhood, and to be herself. Going back to her interior, her roots, the source. To finally unite with her husband and her daughter. I was pregnant during the filming and that was a challenge too. But I love the challenges.
NY Glam: And the most fun one?
A role in a film where my character is totally awkward, in her behaviour and things she says. At the same time very natural, funny and smiling. A kind of a Cameron Diaz character:)
NY Glam: Describe your biggest accomplishment to date?
My children!
NY Glam: What other hobbies do you have? Have you ever considered branching out into directing or screenwriting?
I love sports. Tennis, horse riding, swimming… I love water. I love dancing but it’s not a hobby, it makes part of my work in acting.
And as I’ve already said before, I have always written, creating, imagining, it was a need, but then the branching out into directing and specific screenwriting became obvious.
NY Glam: Where have you played a lead role? What was the character about?
I’ve played several lead roles in theatre and in movies, but in one of them the character is a woman fighting for her life, her child and her necessities. This woman is diving in loneliness, guilt and the necessity of making a very difficult choice. And at the same time finding a little bit of peace in her loneliness with the nature and with her faithful companion. She’s torn but at the end a hope remains.
NY Glam: If you weren’t acting what would you be doing?
Working with children.
NY Glam: What’s your goal for this year?
Going through the corona crisis and global madness of the world.
Start the filming of my new movie. Finishing the development of my projects, keep working on myself. Taking care of my family.
NY Glam: What is your advice for aspiring actors?
Work, dream, never give up. Take the best you can from the teachers you have. Read, learn, rehearse… Work hard! Work with different people. Respect yourself and require to be respected!
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