Best known for her role as Chloe van Heerden in the horror-thriller “The Lullaby” and as Yvette Lawrence in the drama “Die Pro,” Reine Swart has also appeared in the action thriller “Detour.” She can be seen in various TV series such as “SyFy’s Z Nation” and “Dominion.” And fans will remember her in BBC’s “Jamillah and Aladdin,” in National Geographic’s “Origins” and in “The Empty Man.” In the gritty crime drama “The Refuge,” Swart is Staci, the girlfriend of Markus, a getaway driver who becomes embroiled in a double-cross that threatens their lives.
Thank you for taking the time for this interview. What drew you to the role of Staci and to this film?
Reine Swart: I met Keith at the “Lullaby” premiere. What I like about him is that he’s kind and he really knows what he wants in a film. He works really hard and that’s inspiring because he’s an independent filmmaker. Making a film by yourself, I think, is amazing. I tried to give him what he wants and I hope he’s happy with it.
Most actors have a love/hate relationship with auditions. Did you audition for the role of Staci?
RS: I got his email and went in for a long audition. They really took their time. I met the producer and Keith, the Director-Producer. They talked about the film and were really open about their plans. It was a nice environment with really friendly, professional people.
The film doesn’t really go into much of Staci’s backstory or explore her relationship with Markus. Can you go into that a bit?
RS: (laughs) I just kind of made up my own backstory a bit. I would say Staci and Markus are good friends. Friends from a very young age—like primary school. She really cares about him but I think she likes him more than he likes her. That’s why she doesn’t walk away and she should stay away if she was smart.
What did you find most challenging about playing Staci?
RS: Sometimes as an actor, you have an idea but you have to be flexible. When I came on set, Keith really knew what he wanted. Just to hone it in a way that works for his vision. So that transition was difficult for me when you have this idea of a character but you have to respect the director’s vision. Obviously, his vision was so much better than mine because he’s the brain behind the film. But he really helped me. He was very encouraging.
What was your favorite scene in this film?
RS: The last scene with the skyline. It was so beautiful.
You earned a degree in industrial engineering. Was there a film or actor that prompted you to become an actress?
RS: During my last year of studying engineering, I started getting roles. They kept saying, ‘you look like the person I want for this project.’ So I kind of fell into it. I did go to the New York Film Academy and I did want to act but I didn’t have family in the film industry. It’s so hard for people. You think to yourself, I need to get an agent but they don’t want to talk to you. I was lucky enough to have opportunities come to me. I grabbed them with both hands and really worked hard at it. I studied engineering because that was what my family did.
Was there a film project or something that convinced you that maybe you could make a living at this?
RS: Living in the states for over two years, I did a film called “The Pro,” which is a surfing film. I spent about eight weeks surfing and we shot for two months and I thought, I really like this. If I could do this for a living, that would be great. But it does have its ups and downs. As with every actor, you just need to go to every audition.
If you hadn’t pursued acting, what field would you have gone into?
RS: My husband is an industrial engineer and that’s where I met him. So I would probably be an engineer.
You hail from South Africa. How are films and filmmaking different than here in the US?
RS: I was really surprised how similar it is. I guess because there are so many films on ‘behind the scenes’ with actors and TV series about filmmakers. I would say it’s a more independent film scene. But Indies shot in South Africa are very similar to those shot in the US. There have big productions coming to South Africa from the US and Europe. In the last 10 years, it picked up.
Looks like your dance card’s pretty full—both features and shorts. Can you talk about them a little bit, starting with “Triggered” and “Empty Man?”
RS: “Empty Man” was shot in South Africa. I got to play a very short part but it was a big production. It was nice to work on, and the director, David Pryor knew what he wanted. He was very kind. And it’s just nice to work with people who are kind. “Triggered” was filmed this year. And that was three weeks of night shoots, which was tough. But I connected with all the cast. And having friends in the film helped.
What were you like in high school? Nerd? Valedictorian?
RS: I was such a nerd. I was in chess. I read a lot. I mostly stayed at home instead of going to parties. My parents even said, go out. It’s good for you. And I said, no. I was the complete opposite of one of my sisters. She was very social.
Alex A. Kecskes is a published author of "Healer a Novel" and "The Search for Dr. Noble"—both now available on Amazon. He has written hundreds of film reviews and celebrity interviews for a wide variety of online and print outlets. He has covered red carpet premieres and Comic-Con events for major films and independent releases.
