Alien nation
British actress Scarlett Byrne goes from playing a witch in harryPotter to an alien-human hybrid in FallingSkies.
Canada is anything but sombre.
The pretty actress – who is dating Cooper Hefner, Playboy founder Hugh Hefner’s son – said: “Considering that there are a lot of hours and the weather can be very tiring, everyone is genuinely in a very good mood. There are days when you don’t want to get up at 4am or 5am and sit in a chair for two hours and do hair and make-up, or wait all day and be in the cold outside, but everyone genuinely wants to be there, having a great time doing it.”
Byrne is no stranger to joining an already established ensemble cast, having previously been a part of the final three Harry Potter films as Pansy Parkinson.
Her introduction to the performing arts world started even earlier, when she was a little girl.
“I used to do Irish dancing so I’m used to being up on stage. It wasn’t until I was 11 or 12, when my mum thought I should try getting into a particular school, that I discovered acting.
“My first day, I just totally fell in love with acting and performing and I knew that was what I wanted to do. My parents were horrified,” she explained.
She went on to briefly describe being dropped for a lead role because they wanted a blonde instead, how she was devastated by the news, and how her mum was concerned about the competitive nature of the industry.
But her parents, who are both hairdressers with no connections to the acting world, allowed her to continue chasing her dream. It paid off because shortly after that, she got the part in Harry Potter.
When asked what her favourite alien movies were, Byrne didn’t hesitate: “I love E.T. and it is definitely my No.1 favourite. It just reminds me of when I was younger; my family being together. I love the Alien series, too, with Sigourney Weaver.”
However, she was coy about what lies ahead for Lexi in Steven Spielberg’s Falling Skies, even with the series scheduled to end next year.
“I do not know what Lexi’s endgame is. And if I did, unfortunately, I wouldn’t tell you. I’m just going to be safe and say: ‘ No, I don’t know’,” she said with a laugh.
Falling Skies Season Four airs Thursdays at 10pm on AXN (Astro Ch701) and AXN HD (AstroB.yond Ch721).