Hannah Tointon ('The Children')
Published Dec 2 2008, 15:01 GMT | By Ben Rawson-Jones
Casey is a very believable teenager. Did you base your performance on anyone in particular or draw much from your own experiences?
"Yes I did. Tom {Shankland, director] gave me some films to watch and when I read the script I kind of saw in my head Christina Ricci and Thora Birch. I was given American Beauty and The Ice Storm to watch, so I looked at them and put my own spin on it."
How did you find working with all those scary children? Were you ever freaked out by them on set?
"Haha. No, they were the nicest kids on set - they were so lovely and different in real life. They just loved the whole experience and embraced it. They were looking forward to all the death scenes and things like that!"
There's one particular dinner table scene featuring the children that must have been frightening to witness.
"It was actually. We had a couple of rehearsal days before we filmed it and that was one of the scenes we really went into. It was quite scary, quite eerie when they start screaming one by one."
The film shoot must have been freezing with all the snow around, so how did you react when you found out you'd be wearing a very short skirt throughout?
"It was absolutely freezing. It was quite funny when we were going through the costume, before I didn't really think about it. We were just thinking what would be great for the character and the skirt and the stocking things seemed to fit in with her 'party look', as we put it. But when we actually came to do it, on my first day I had to fall down this hill in the tiny skirt and it was freezing and I had to run around. I was just dreading it and I thought 'why did we pick something like this?' as it was just so inappropriate. But I think it was great for her character even though it was horrible to do... it so wouldn't be Casey to go out in a big duffle coat!"
At one point your character throws up. Was it good old pea soup they gave you to spew or something else?
"Well, I had a few options that I could use. In the end it was custard mixed with this horrible raspberry thing, but at least it was sweet! Soup would have been horrible."
The final scene in the movie is very ambiguous. Was that always the plan?
"Well, to be honest it wasn't until halfway through. There were a few alternative endings and I think they were going to look at the kids and how they were changing. But halfway through, Tom had this idea... to kind of give it a twist. I really like the ending and when he told me it I got really excited. It gives a real mystery to the whole thing. I like that, because otherwise everything is too explained and overdone."
Do you think your stint in Hollyoaks has helped or hindered you picking up good acting roles?
"I really don't know the answer to that because I don't think you can ever say something hindered you. I'd hate to think that because I loved my time on Hollyoaks and it was great acting for a whole year. I really believe that you can do anything and if people have a perception because you're in a soap I think that's quite sad. Acting is great in anything you do, so I kind of go by that!"
What are your future acting plans?
"I've been doing bits and bobs and I'd love to do more British films. I enjoyed the whole process so much. It was really refreshing to have a beginning, a middle and an end and to really be able to go into your character and story. I'd maybe like to do a bit of theatre, but I'm open to anything. I've just got to wait and see I guess."
The Children is released in cinemas across the UK on Friday.
