Rising Star actress Diane Keogh: “Don’t listen to negative people. Never ever give up!”
We had the distinct pleasure of interviewing actor Diane Keogh.
Diane Keogh is an Australian born actress who began her film acting career in 2019. She has appeared in twelve films, including a feature film and an episode from the TV series short, In the Zoom Room (2020), directed by Rhianna Basore and Estrella Tamez, Los Angeles. Her latest feature film, Sundown, in which she stars as Erin, an Early-Stage Dementia patient, is directed by Mack Struthers, Sydney and is due for release in 2021. She studies online with the Identity School of Acting, London, John Swanbeck of BlueSwanFilms, Los Angeles and One on One NYC, New York.
Thank you so much for interviewing with us! Can you share your story on how did you get started in the film industry?
In 2019 I gingerly and nervously attended my first acting class with Mark and Sarah Moribito of Theatre Oz, Port Macquarie, NSW and studied with them for a year. I began attending workshops and applied for Extra and Featured Extra roles on the website Star Now, which got me started appearing in short films.
Who are you grateful for your success and can you share a story about that?
I am grateful to Mark and Sarah Moribito for that early professional training and encouragement and to Rachael Bristow, an experienced Director, who gave me so many tips and guides on how to behave on set. He also advised me to make my films as I live in a small regional town with almost no film acting opportunities.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
On Rachael Bristow’s advice, I thought about the idea of making my films, and I set about writing my first short film, Not Enough Time, which featured actors from my class as well as experienced actors. The film was selected by many international film festivals and received many awards. It was a semi-finalist in a festival in St Petersburg and was also streamed online in a US annual film festival in 2020.
What has been the biggest challenge in your career so far? How did you overcome it?
Learning my lines! I have a range of techniques now, for example, writing, hearing, seeing to repetition and using the app Line Learner, which is handy. The main thing is to work hard. If you know your lines, you can relax into the part. If you don’t, you stress, and that is not a comfortable position to be in. So, whatever you do, know those lines!
What are your ‘‘5 things I do to prepare for the role” and are you able to share a story or example of each?
- I break the scene into no more than five sections. Then I decide on the main objective for my character for that scene.
- I assign a strong verb to each line of my dialogue on the left side of the page. It tells me what I want to do to the other actor, for example — to question, confront, etc. Next, I assign a strong verb against each of the other actor’s line on the right side of the page. Those represent how I feel when I hear what the other actor says.
- I develop the characteristics, their two main personality traits, then identify a negative personality trait they are hiding from us all under the iceberg.
- I decide on something that is not in the script that is going on with the character, something that is driving me that is not my scene objective, to get the audience wondering what I am thinking. This objective is not to be known to the other actor, and this thought is usually completely different from what I am playing in the scene. I could be driving my best friend or husband somewhere, but secretly I am thinking about how could I kill her/them, this makes something interesting happen in my eyes to fascinate the audience and make them wonder.
- I imagine a portrait of my character in my imagination and see it. I see posture, attitude, imagine the sights, sounds and smells of the genre, and how the character behaves. It sets the tone for my character and how I play it. I never start the scene until I am ready, I wait 5–7 seconds before I begin and always let the scene continue even after I have finished my dialogue.
What methods or techniques do you use to find truth in your character’s behaviour?
I try to put myself in that character’s shoes. I do a lot of research on films and YouTube clips on similar characters. I try to emulate how they behave, understand how they feel, and discover what is important to them. I try to find some of their characteristics in myself that I can use. I close my eyes and try to imagine them and let their character into my being. I experiment in that character style and voice, for example, read something aloud in the way they would.
What are your top 3 tips for actors that are starting?
- Never give up. It’s a long-term activity. Get lots of training and do this on an ongoing basis. It’s an investment.
- Work as hard as you can and practice every week. Buy a cheap camera and tripod and make a one-to-two-minute self-tape every week, find the dialogue from short YouTubes of characters you would like to play, type out the text and perform them with a friend or tape the other part on your computer voice recorder. Watch your tape and be critical of your mistakes and celebrate what you did that was good. Watch these tapes with the sound off, that’s how Casting Directors watch self-tapes. Make a list of different characters you want to play.
- Don’t listen to negative people. Someone said something negative to Meryl Streep early in her career, and look how that worked out! Believe in yourself and your ability to develop skill and act. Never ever give up!
What has been inspiring you lately?
Kym Jackson from the Secret Actor Society. She is a wonderful mentor who has introduced me to many great resources and opportunities and is very generous with her advice and guidance. And all the wonderful Casting and Film Directors I meet in One on One NYC classes and workshops. And John Swanbeck, who is the Master of teaching creative cinematic thinking for actors on film!
What movie would you recommend watching and why?
For me, it is Sound of Music (1965). This movie has struggle, beauty, heartache, love, betrayal, fear, hope and includes all different generations and ages! It is based on a true story in Austria and is full of hope and happiness.
What is one message you would give to your fans?
Watch out for some exciting new characters I am looking forward to playing! You ain’t seen nothing yet!
How can our readers find you online?
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11421115/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diane.keogh3
Showcast: https://app.showcast.com.au/profile/FkabSxsN
Starnow: https://www.starnow.com.au/dianekeogh
