Rebecca Leafe.

As far as acting gigs go for someone just starting out in their career, Rebecca Leafe has hit the jackpot.

The Perth-based actor has just wrapped filming on Adam Morris’ Frank and Frank (or The Valley and The Walrus: Ruminations on the Mystery from Soup to Nuts) starring opposite Myles Pollard in the Albany-shot drama which also co-stars celebrated indigenous actor, Trevor Jamieson.

“I have to tell you, I felt a little out of my depth when I found out that Myles and Trevor had been cast in the film,” Leafe tells Cinema Australia. “Once my nerves had passed, I realised how lucky I was that I’d be acting opposite Myles Pollard who’s incredibly supportive and generous.”

The sophomore feature film from Morris following his successful relationship exploration Edward and Isabella, Frank and Frank focuses on a platonic bromance between two middle aged men, Frank 1 (Pollard) and Frank 2 (Jamieson) who are each trying to live happier and more enriched lives while trying to make sense of the chaotic and confusing worlds they live in.

Cinema Australia recently caught up with Leafe who filled us in on her role as Sarah in the film.

Rebecca Leafe as Sarah in Frank and Frank (or The Valley and The Walrus: Ruminations on the Mystery from Soup to Nuts).

“To have such an experienced actor make me feel so comfortable and confident in my abilities, I really don’t think you could ask for any more than that.”

Interview by Matthew Eeles 

You’ve just wrapped filming on Frank and Frank which is your first feature film as an actor. But you’re also currently studying law, right?
That’s right. I’m at the end of my third year. Law wasn’t something I ever set out to get into. I went and saw a career advisor and after exploring my interests they suggested that I look at law? At the time I thought, Well, you know what, why don’t I have a look at becoming an astronaut? [Laughs]. That’s how out of reach I thought law would be. So I got into law at Murdoch and it has been unreal. So now I’m in my third year and I’m starting to get to a point where I have to start to decide what sort of lawyer I’m going to be.

Do you have any ideas?
My husband’s not going to be very happy about this, but I’ll probably volunteer as Legal Aid.

That’s admirable.
There’s a lot that you could do as a lawyer, and I think that a lot of lawyers probably feel the pull of the money. But I’m feeling Legal Aid at the moment.

I believe you also have a private pilot licence.
I’m halfway through getting my private pilot license. Having children does absorb you, and I’ve always put their priorities before mine. I thought if I’m going to get my licence, now is the best time to do it. My husband is quite an outdoorsy guy, so he likes to get out and about and he’s getting his pilot license as well.

So where does acting fit into all of this? Have you always wanted to act?
Maybe in early in high school I wanted to be an actor. It wasn’t really something that I thought I could do. It was in my second year of law when one of the lecturers was talking about how you need to really articulate yourself or you’re going to get cut down in the courtroom. So I looked into some acting classes just to help build up the confidence for when I get to that point in my law career. I started some classes at Ali Roberts and Perth Actors Centre which was just so terrifying to me. But, you know, it was really exciting and I think I was surprised just to find it a really nonjudgmental, supportive environment. It really reminded me of the passion I may have had for acting in the past, because when I started university I did all my electives in psychology because I’m really curious about human behaviour and the thought process behind people’s actions. I realised through acting I could adopt another person’s personality and life with no judgment. I really enjoyed the empathy and the vulnerability of that experience. It was really cathartic.

Had you had a general interest in film?
Not at all. I just thought that acting was just a far out dream.

And here you are starring in your first feature film acting opposite two of Australia’s finest actors in a film directed by one of the country’s most exciting new talents.
You just can’t make it up. I had so many compliments from Adam about my acting and the faith that he had in me to pull this off. I was like, “What? This can’t be real. How is this happening?” [Laughs].

How did this role come about for you?
I actually came across the casting through Annie Murtagh Monks. I submitted for the role and I got a message from Adam who asked me to send a few self tapes of a scene, which I sent through. When he called me I was so excited. I was really drawn to this character because of how she deals with the complexity of her situation. I just thought if I had the privilege of going on that journey it would be such an amazing opportunity. At the time when Adam cast me he said, “I feel like you are Sarah.”

What can you tell us about the character?
She’s at this point in her life where she has been with her husband for a long time. They got together when she was quite young and they have a daughter. They’re at a point where they’re beginning to drift apart, which I think a lot of women will be able to relate to. There are certain things that have happened throughout their relationship and they’re at this pivotal point that I think she’s further along in her life than Frank is.

Rebecca Leafe on the set of Frank and Frank (or The Valley and The Walrus: Ruminations on the Mystery from Soup to Nuts).

Had you seen Edward and Isabella before you applied for this role?
I watched Edward and Isabella after I was cast. I just loved the rawness and I knew I wanted to be a part of the way Adam tells stories.

What was it like to work with Adam?
Oh my goodness. Adam could not have been more supportive. I feel like my own life experiences and having a full life outside of acting gave me a range and depth that I could use. There’s a lot of firsthand experience I felt I could use for the character, which I also think is important for an actor. You have to have a full life outside of acting with other interests so there’s no desperation. You have to do it because you love it and you get cast because your interpretation fits the director’s interpretation so they know that you’re committed. Adam knew I was really committed to the role and I think he trusted that I knew this character so well. She had a full back story. Adam allowed my instincts to take over and he really just let me go. I think giving that amount of freedom gets the most out of an actor because I could trust that I did enough research. And I had this amazing director who was so trusting.

What did you learn from working with an actor of Myles’ calibre?
Miles was so generous and supportive in creating the relationship between the characters. He just made this space really safe and Adam gave Myles and I free rein to create this relationship which I’ve never experienced before. To have such an experienced actor make me feel so comfortable and confident in my abilities, I really don’t think you could ask for any more than that. I had done a class with Myles maybe about a year and a half ago, so we had met before, which was so great. We did speak before filming. He sent me an email just to say he’s really excited and he fully supports Adam casting me.

What experience would you say you will take away from this and into your next performance?
Not to settle in to a choice, and not making decisions too early about how a scene is going to play out. Ease into a scene as it’s playing out. I knew my character, and I knew their relationship really well.

Would you say that the experience has left you wanting to continue acting?
Oh, absolutely. It was such a wonderful experience. I just feel so privileged and grateful to have been a part of this film. It’s such a beautiful film and Adam was wonderful to work with. The crew were so much fun and down to earth. They were my sort of people.

How quickly until you jump into your next film?
I just shot a short film. [Laughs]. I can’t say too much about it, but it’s being made with Men’s Shed. It’s about a single mum who lives with her father who’s experiencing dementia. She’s at that point where she needs to make a decision about what is the best thing for him. The script was sent to me while I was shooting Frank and Frank. It’s beautiful. I was fully committed to bringing this story to life.

Frank and Frank (or The Valley and The Walrus: Ruminations on the Mystery from Soup to Nuts) will release early 2023.

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