DANIELLE MACDONALD GOT ADS

A quick chat with

At 18, Macdonald left suburban Clareville, NSW, to pursue acting in Los Angeles. Now 26, she has wowed critics as rapper Patricia Dombrowski in Geremy Jasper’s drama Patti Cake$ (in cinemas now). The budding star tells WHO’S Cynthia Wang about her warp-speed career.

Why did you decide to move to the US? There just wasn’t the same amount of roles or opportunity, although I think everywhere now is starting to represent people of different backgrounds, sexual orientation, shapes and sizes rather than just this one stereotype of a person we always saw onscreen.

You were just a teen when you got to LA. Do you remember your first gig?

I was able to do a short film and Rachel Weisz directed it. And Joel Edgerton was in it, which was funny because I was like, “Oh, I came all the way to America and now I get to work with an Aussie I admire.”

Could you rap before doing this movie?

No, but I had a really good understanding of who Patti was. I was definitely stressed about the rapping and the movement and trying to make it feel and look as authentic as possible.

The film got a standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival.

It’s really overwhelming to be standing there and people clapping all around you. I don’t know that I even have a name for the expression that you feel. One of your next projects is playing Jennifer Aniston’s daughter in Dumplin’. I met her and she’s a very lovely, warm and open person and we vibed really well. It was really great and I’m really excited to do it.