There’s a long list of pop stars who have surprised fans by transitioning into the acting world, including Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Harry Styles and Beyoncé. Now, Amy Shark can be added to this illustrious list with the release of her new sports drama film, Beast.
Starring alongside Daniel MacPherson, Luke Hemsworth and Russell Crowe — who also co-wrote the screenplay — Beast is set in the world of MMA and follows a former legend who reunites with his old coach for one final fight.
Amy, who plays former MMA fighter-turned-trainer Rose, told PEDESTRIAN.TV that acting was actually her “first love” before she became a musician, and she’s always wanted to pursue a film career.
“It’s something that not many people know about me. I started doing acting classes when I was 14, and I loved drama at school,” she shared.
“And then I turned 16 and turned into a typical angsty teenager. I learned guitar, started listening to a lot of alternative music, and that was my world. So it’s cool to come back around.”
How did Amy Shark end up in a movie?
While Amy admittedly “never thought this opportunity would come into [her] life” after going full steam ahead with her music career — which, as we know, has well and truly paid off — her role in Beast came about thanks to her friend Russell Crowe. Casual.
“He liked my music, came to a few shows, and we’ve now become good friends,” she detailed. “I would always gee him up and be like, ‘When are you gonna tap me in, coach, and give me a job?’. Then one day, he was like, ‘Hey, I’ve got a script I want you to read, there’s a role that I think would suit you’.”
The “Adore” hitmaker said the Gladiator star helped her get a foot in the door, but she had to audition for the part just like everybody else.
“I wasn’t just automatically in. I had to go through the whole audition process,” she revealed.
“I had to do two, because the director liked my audition in the room, and then I think everyone was like, ‘Who is she? She’s got no agent, no IMDb, nothing we can watch’. I think they wanted to just make sure that I was actually the right fit for the role, so I had to do another Zoom and another reading.”
What it was like filming with Russell Crowe
So, not only did Amy end up acting alongside her friend and Hollywood actor Russell Crowe in a script that he co-wrote, but she was also tasked with playing his daughter.
“I said, ‘Is it too inappropriate to call you daddy?’, and he said, ‘Yeah’,” she laughed.
Amy shared that having Russell on set made everyone bring their A-game, which created an incredible environment for her first time on a film set.
“When he is watching, and he’s on set, it’s like, ‘Don’t f**k around’, which was great,” she remarked.
“I said to him, ‘If there’s something that I can do better, you tell me’. And he’s a very straight shooter, so he did. He was like, ‘You’re moving too much’, or ‘You’re rushing that line, let it sit’. And I was like, thank god. Like, who gets to have Russell Crowe mentor them on set for your first movie? I feel lucky”
With her fourth season as a judge on Australian Idol done and dusted, her debut film currently in cinemas and her upcoming fourth studio album (which she describes as her best) scheduled for release on July 31, Amy is set to have one of the busiest years of her career.
And when it comes to acting, she’s just getting started.
“I’ve had some meetings with agents,” she teased. “I loved every part of making this movie and the experience, and I always say that I just love doing cool s**t, and if a cool role comes up or something intrigues me or inspires me or looks interesting, I really want to do it.”
She’s already won eight ARIA Awards and a Logie. Next stop, EGOT.
Beast is in cinemas now and will be available to stream on Stan on May 26
The post Amy Shark Reveals The Unusual Way She Landed Her First Movie Role Alongside ‘Daddy’ Russell Crowe appeared first on PEDESTRIAN.TV .
