INTRODUCING...

Helena Zengel

THE 12-YEAR-OLD GERMAN CO-STARS WITH TOM HANKS IN NEWS OF THE WORLD

ON FALLING IN LOVE WITH ACTING

“I started when I was four. I had the first main role at seven. The thing that’s crazy is to get applause [in a theatre], and know that everybody thinks you’re doing great stuff. Even when you say bad things, you still get applause! It’s great to go into different roles, and to make new friends. You can inspire people with movies.”

ON HER CHARACTER IN NEWS OF THE WORLD

“Her name is Johanna, for the English-speaking people. But for me in the movie, she was named Cicada [her Native American name]. She’s a very strong girl, but from everything she had to go through, she’s kind of terrified of people and the world.”

ON HER LOVE OF HORSE-RIDING

“I’ve been riding horses for eight years. We have our own horse, an Icelandic horse called Hekla. But it was very different doing Western riding in the movie. I usually do English riding. So I had to learn how to ride in the Western-style on set.”

ON HAVING TOM HANKS AS HER CO-STAR

“I didn’t quite know him [before making the film]. So when I first heard I was going to shoot with him, I watched a lot of his movies. I think they’re really good! He always helped me get into the scene and to channel the right emotions. His advice was always: be on time, know your lines, and be polite to everybody.”