Meet Harriet Bridgwater | Actress

We had the good fortune of connecting with Harriet Bridgwater and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Harriet, what do you want people to remember about you?
I want my legacy to be the projects I’m involved in, the films and plays I act in, I want people to resonate with as well as be entertained by.
I love seeing something that moves me and encourages me to think in a different way to understand more about people from different backgrounds. I want to be that for other people. To portray a character and for it to be believable, to reflect a person that an audience feels they know, speaking words from a writer who’s got an important story to tell. And the dream for me is to follow in the steps of those actresses I look up to, to do performances I am really proud of. To constantly challenge myself , I want to be an actor that takes risks in their career, following the work I want to do. Which will be a colourful array of characters in different genres.  I want to be remembered for being a kind person, who brings a good energy onto set that helps make a creative, free and safe space, with the people I work with and a fun and loving one in my personal life.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am an actress rooted in a classical British background, involved with theatre companies across the UK and collaborating with the new generation of filmmakers. Now being based in Los Angeles, I’ve worked with a variety of directors; from short films exploring the relationship between sexuality and Islamic culture, to comedic improvisation work for creators in the Youtube space. As Well as short films such as “Rumination” Directed by John Palmer – Edwards, addressing the effect a breakup from an unhealthy relationship can have on mental health and to someone’s sense of identity. It’s a privilege to work creating projects I believe in. Moving to Los Angeles at a young age, I have grown a larger network in my career starting a production company with creatives around the world, predominantly in Brazil, America and the UK.  I have learnt that the challenges I have push me to become a better person, to work harder to get the job and do it right. To let go of what I can’t control in a fickle industry. In progressing as a person I’ve progressed as an actor, because I can empathise with my characters and connect better with people. When doors get shut in my face, the key to  developing stamina in my career in the arts has been being able to keep a sense of humor in the face of adversity. And brush myself off and keep going.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When friends and family have come to visit one of the first places I’ve wanted to take them to is Santa Monica, I’m a beach lover, particularly the sea. And Santa Monica has some of the best food spots and such a fun, colorful feel to it, I love getting fish tacos at this place on the pier called the Albright. I also would recommend, this incredible Mexican food truck near to The Broadwater in LA, their Asada fries are other-worldly and I love going there after watching improv with friends. Also the Vista Cinema I love ! There’s often double features and such good butter popcorn ; every Friday at midnight they have a screening of one of Tarantino’s films, I watched Kill Bill vol.1 for the first time there and it was mind-blowing. It’s now one of my all time favourites.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Jodie Comer ! Is definitely a big source of inspiration in the trajectory of my acting career. I first knew her as her role as Chloe on “My Mad Fat Diary” an ITV show I used to watch as a young teenager in the UK. I thought she was a stunning actress and there was one scene in particular where she gave me goosebumps, (spoiler) when she is trying to escape an abusive situation she is pretending that she’s fine to her best friend but is clearly traumatised. As an actress she beautifully portrays such complex characters, and I was blown away with her performance in “Killing Eve” as Villanelle. She is incredibly talented and dedicated to her characters and she acts with such fearlessness and freedom I think that’s what makes her performances seem so intimate to me. When I saw her Solo show performance of “Prima Facie” by Susie Miller I was astounded by the physical and vocal limits she pushed within herself , similar to how I felt watching James MccAvoy in “Cyrano de Bergerac.”
When performing my own solo show “Unladylike” Directed by Jane Fleiss ,on Emmeline Pankhurst, a militant suffragette leader. I remembered the way these actors harnessed their voices and owned their bodies and how powerful this was. In the role I was playing about this immensely influencial and commanding person, these were potent characteristics of her personality.

Website: http://harrietbridgwateractor.weebly.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harrietbridgwater?igsh=YTQwZjQ0NmI0OA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Youtube: Harrietbridgwater

Image Credits
Hullisbeautiful – Instagram