Star Fiona Vroom Tells Us About Her Plans And Details About Her Latest Movie
Photo by Farrah Aviva
Actress and dancer Fiona Vroom grew up in Vancouver and spent a large part of her childhood on a sailboat. Yes, just as you read it. ‘Basically, my whole upbringing was on a boat. My dad built boats, so from a wee infant we lived on a sailboat and sailed around the Gulf Islands quite a bit', Fiona said in a recent interview. She describes herself as a shameless, positive, and sensitive person.
To date, she has honed her craft by working with the likes of Tim Burton, Christoph Waltz, Amy Adams, and Vera Farmiga, to name just a few. In 2014, the web series Fiona produced, co-created, and starred in called The True Heroines, was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award. The same year she received a Leo Award nomination for Best Actress and the show took home the award for Best Series.
The True Heroines follows three women who once belonged to a shadowy corporation that was creating genetic super soldiers prior to World War I, but was shut down after a short time. With the corporation on a never-ending quest to kill and destroy, three 'ordinary' women appear with superpowers such as the ability to become invisible, move super fast, and super strength to fight whoever is necessary.
Fiona is an accomplished actress appearing in numerous productions as Power Rangers (Lionsgate), Star Trek Beyond (Paramount), and Big Eyes (Tim Burton). Also, TNT's Snowpiercer, The CW’s Family Law, Amazon's Upload and Man in the High Castle, Nickelodeon's Are You Afraid of the Dark, A&E's Bates Motel, AMC’s Hell on Wheels, and The CW's Supernatural and iZombie.
This time we had the chance to talk to her and know a little more about her. So, keep reading.
FIRST OF ALL, LET’S TALK A BIT ABOUT YOUR CAREER. WHERE DID THE IDEA OF ACTING COME FROM IN YOUR CASE, AND HOW HAS THE CAREER DEVELOPED UNTIL NOW FOR YOU?
There wasn’t any other option for me. It was acting, and it’s always been acting. I used to watch the Turner Classic movie channel with my mom and I thought, “Hey, I can do that too.” I wanted to perform like Judy Garland and Audrey Hepburn. So, I studied Ballet for 20 years and that was my introduction to being part of an ensemble and telling a story. Then at age 11, I was cast in my first role, it was in a Christmas Pantomime. That was the beginning of my career on stage. I had to be on stage and I took every possible opportunity to get on stage so that I could sing and dance and act. I went to the Canadian College of Performing Arts, and after that, I started to study Film Acting. I became obsessed with the camera and fascinated by screenplays and acting on film. I’m still obsessed and learning all the time.
YOU ARE ABOUT TO BE SEEN IN ‘GREASE: RISE OF THE PINK LADIES’ AS ‘TIPPY’. WHAT IS THE SERIES ABOUT, AND WHAT IS THE ROLE OF YOUR CHARACTER IN THE STORY?
The series is a prequel to the film “Grease” which came out in 1978. This story takes place 4 years before those events, and it’s centered around a group of misfit students who want to change the way things are. They start a movement, and become the founding mothers of Rydell High’s “Pink Ladies”. My character, Tippy, is Susan’s mother. Susan is an outsider at the school. She’s not liked by the Pink Ladies. She may be seen as the “mean girl” of Rydell High but we get to understand why she is the way she is by meeting Tippy. Tippy is an overprotective, over-involved, overbearing mother who wants her daughter to be nothing less than perfect and she pushes Susan to the max. She will do anything in her power to protect her darling little girl. And I mean anything…
AMID THIS AVALANCHE OF MODERNITY, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE IDEA OF PARTICIPATING IN A STORY THAT TAKES PLACE IN THE 50S? HOW WAS THE EXPERIENCE FOR YOU?
I have always been fascinated by the 1950s. It was an interesting moment in history where everything seemed really shiny, but there was still a bunch of dust on the ground from recovering after WW2. But there was hope, growth, and celebration. Families booming, industries booming, golden opportunities everywhere, but still this opposing feeling of repression. As an actor, it’s a great world to play in because you can walk that line very closely and decide if you’re on the shiny side, or if is there more than meets the eye. But playing Tippy was a dream come true, from the wardrobe and hairstyles and makeup looks to the beautifully complicated written scenes that were so deep. It really was magical. I would have loved to live in the ’50s. Maybe I was born in the wrong decade.
WHAT KIND OF CHARACTERS ARE THE ONES THAT YOU YEARN TO PLAY? WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR AS AN ACTRESS?
I love to play the villain. I love playing the bad guy. Layers of complicated darkness. I would love to play a witch one day.
AS FOR STORIES, WHAT ARE THE PLOTS AND TALES THAT YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT?
Personally, I love feel-good romantic comedies. I love to laugh, laughter is medicine. So, any story that can make you laugh out loud, is my jam. I like to mix it up too, I’m always down for a post-apocalyptic world where humans have to learn to survive in a new way.
HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A ROLE? WHAT THINGS DO YOU LOOK FOR, INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF FIONA?
Each role is different and requires different attention. Sometimes I use substitution, that’s a powerful tool, but I always make sure I know who I am talking to, in my own life, and relate that to the scene. But as an actor, I’m constantly preparing for the next role, so staying healthy is really important, mentally and physically.
APART FROM ACTING, IS THERE ANOTHER CRAFT THAT APPEALS TO YOU? A HOBBY PERHAPS, A CAUSE YOU SUPPORT?
I love music. I love to sing. I play Ukulele, always looking for new bandmates, and love to dance. Dancing is life. I recently started Roller Skating. So we will see where that leads me.
BASED ON TRUE HEROINES, WHICH WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL, ARE ANY OTHER PLANS TO DIRECT, WRITE OR PRODUCE?
Thank you. Yes, always writing and creating new projects. I have something in development at the moment, but it’s too early to talk about it. But creating is very important to me and collaborating is what really gets me excited.
PING PONG QUESTIONS
Guilty pleasure: Watching TV.
Favorite movie ever: Dirty Dancing.
Food that you hate: I really will eat anything, but I don’t have much of a sweet tooth.
Dog team or cat team: I have a dog, she is my life, and her name is Pepper.
A perfect day for you is: Coffee, A dog walk, reading a good script, booking a job, glass of wine.
If you could have a superpower, what would it be: Teleportation. So I could bring my dog with me wherever I go.
Do you believe in life after death? I think so. Yes.
Recurring dream? Being chased by a murderer and running in slow motion.
mEET THE AUTHOR
Mariana González – Venezuelan journalist
I am interested in novelty, talent and creativity. I put my lyrics at the service of those who genuinely strive to build an alternate narrative about the common and humdrum. Rival Magazine has been the open window to put a face on emerging talent.