Stefanie Rossi
She played in Matthew Maio Mackay‘s Dollar Baby A Tale of the Laundry Game as Bobby’s Wife.
SKSM: Could you start with telling me a little bit about yourself? Who are you and what do you do?
Stefanie Rossi: I am a professional actor/singer living in Adelaide, South Australia. I have an Advanced Diploma of Arts (Acting) and have been working in the industry for the last 8 years both locally, nationally and internationally. I currently run my own theatre company (STARC Productions – check us out on Facebook!) as well as teach singing and acting and work with a number of the Universities around Adelaide helping conduct simulated patient-doctor scenarios for their training doctors. I am constantly involved in stage shows as well as film projects of varying sizes and work both in front of and behind the camera as a producer and 1st AD.
SKSM: When did you know you wanted to become an actress?
Stefanie Rossi: I loved performing/all things creative from a young age and naturally fell into Drama, Singing and Dance lessons, which I continued to do throughout my primary school and high school education. When I left high school I tried going to university but found that I wasn’t enjoying the work I was doing or really getting inspired. That’s when I decided to audition for the various acting institutions around Australia and make Acting my career. So I think I always inherently knew acting was my passion and what I wanted to do. It’s just a part of me. It’s in my blood. There really isn’t a choice for me.
SKSM: How did you become involved in A tale of the laundry game Dollar Baby film?
Stefanie Rossi: I had played a minor role in director Matthew Maio Mackey’s film smothered and he approached me about whether I would like to play a role in A Tale Of The Laundry Game, an invitation I of course accepted.
SKSM: What do you think it is about the story that attracts people so much?
Stefanie Rossi: I think that all of the characters in A Tale Of The Laundry Game are very real people – raw, flawed and relatable in one way or another – and I think that is something that audience members crave and are drawn to, no matter how disturbing their actions or thought processes might be.
SKSM: Did you have to audition for the part or was it written directly for you?
Stefanie Rossi: I didn’t have to audition for the part and I believe Matthew had me in mind for the part.
SKSM: You worked with Matthew Maio Mackay on this film, how was that?
Stefanie Rossi: Matthew is a director who really lets the actor play with their character and gives them freedom to experiment with their own ideas within each scene. He will then make little changes but he really lets you do your thing and trusts you, so that is great!
SKSM: Was there any funny or special moment when they made the movie that you would like to tell me about?
Stefanie Rossi: In one of my scenes I was required to look like I was taking some pills, which is harder to fake than it may sound haha! They kept falling out of my hands and then when we had to do retakes, got sticky due to touching the water I was ‘taking’ them with etc So there were definitely a few bloopers there!
SKSM: Do you still have any contact with the crew/cast from that time? If so with who?
Stefanie Rossi: Absolutely! I still have contact with everyone from Matthew to Rebecca the DOP and all of the actors.
SKSM: What are you working on nowadays?
Stefanie Rossi: These days my focus is spread across a number of projects but the main focus for me at the moment is my theatre company STARC Productions with whom I present 3 plays a year as well as with a medieval/fantasy film series I am involved in producing/acting in called WARPATH –Chronicle– (again, check it out on Facebook), a, 11 episode film series that we finished filming mid last year. We are currently in post-production on that and will be releasing a trailer for it very soon.
SKSM: Are you a fan of Stephen King’s work?
Stefanie Rossi: I had never really looked much into Stephen King’s work before doing this film but I had always respected him as a writer and a creative in general. I don’t handle watching horror/scary films very well but I’m always ok to act in them…go figure!
SKSM: What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
Stefanie Rossi: I think people would be surprised to know that I am 100% Italian. People often look at me in shock when I tell them that and say “but you’re so fair!” I also think they wouldn’t suspect that I’m a qualified personal trainer and am a strict vegan and have been for 12 years – the reaction I get when I tell people that is “but you look so healthy” haha!
SKSM: Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. Is there anything you want to say to the fans that read this interview?
Stefanie Rossi: No worries at all! Thanks for the interview. To the fans, I’d just like to say thanks for taking the time to check out the film! Enjoy and keep supporting the independent work of us artists out there!
