Kirsten Callaghan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kirsten Sarah Callaghan (born 07 June, 1991) is a British-Irish actress, writer, producer and singer-songwriter.[1] Callaghan is best known for her lead role as swimmer Mercedes Gleitze in the upcoming biopic Vindication Swim.

Career[]

Callaghan began her career on stage, after graduating from Rose Bruford College in 2015. Callaghan wrote and performed the one-woman show L'amour est Mort, based on the French folktale Bluebeard, which was chosen to be performed at the London Symposium Festival. In 2016, Callaghan was cast as Nöel Olivier in Nick Baldock's historical play Verge of Strife, and in the lead role of BBC and Royal Court Young Writer's graduate, Thomas Clancy's play, Pussy.[2] Her performance in both was praised by critics, writing for Verge of Strife; "In particular, Kirsten Callaghan as Noel Olivier, one of Brooke’s earlier love interests, plays her part with an inner strength and clarity of expression that underlines the contrast between the excessively lyrical Brooke and the more grounded acquaintances surrounding him."[3] And for Pussy; "it's Callaghan's Lula who really steals the show... she makes even the smallest gag, such as a running joke about her not wearing a watch, into something special."[4]

In 2016, Callaghan was a finalist for the Best Actor Award for the psychological horror 24, beating entries from over 86 countries, as part of 'My RØDE Reel', the world's largest short film competition.[5]

In 2019 Callaghan was cast as the lead role in the biopic Vindication Swim.[6] The film, written and directed by Elliott Hasler, portrays the story of Mercedes Gleitze, who in 1927 became the first British woman to swim the English Channel.[7][8] Wanting to perform all her own stunts, Callaghan spent three years training and filming for the swimming scenes, which were all filmed in the English Channel itself.[9][10][11] Speaking to the BBC's David Sillito about the challenges of filming in the water, Callaghan stated "sometimes if I lost my nerve, I would think what would Mercedes do, as she always remained so calm."[9] Talking to Rick Edwards on BBC Radio 5 Live, Callaghan spoke of how conditions in the Channel would "change all the time and we wanted to capture that on film."[12] Speaking of playing a forgotten heroine, Callaghan said she was proud "to be honouring what she [Gleitze] did".[13] Besides starring in the film, Callaghan also served as executive producer on the project, alongside producers Sally Humphreys, Douglas McJannet and Simon Hasler.[14][15] Vindication Swim is due for release in 2022 and marks Callaghan's feature film debut.[16][17]

Filmography[]

Year Film Actor Producer Notes
2022 Vindication Swim Yes Yes

References[]

  1. ^ "Kirsten Callaghan". IMDb. Retrieved 2022-02-13.
  2. ^ "Verge of Strife | Arsalan Sattari Productions". Arsalan Website. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  3. ^ "Verge of Strife: 4 star review by Joshua Clarke". broadwaybaby.com. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  4. ^ "views from the gods | plays | pussy". www.viewsfromthegods.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  5. ^ "Kirsten Callaghan". IMDb. Retrieved 2022-01-29.
  6. ^ "Elliott, Kirsten & John Interviewed on BBC South East TV & BBC Sussex Radio". Relsah Productions. 2019-08-07. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  7. ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray; Ramos, Dino-Ray (2020-11-02). "Victoria Summer Dives Into Indie Biopic 'Vindication Swim' From Director Elliott Hasler". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  8. ^ Bartle, Faye (2021-04-14). "Behind the scenes of film Vindication Swim - shot in Sussex". Great British Life. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  9. ^ a b "The untold story of a British swimming icon". BBC News. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  10. ^ "Blue plaque unveiled to honour the first British woman to swim the Channel". ITV News. 2022-01-24. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  11. ^ "Crowds watch as Brighton's forgotten swimming hero is honoured with blue plaque". The Argus. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  12. ^ "5 Live Breakfast - 24/01/2022 - BBC Sounds". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  13. ^ Blackburn, Jack. "Channel swimmer comes in from cold". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  14. ^ Vindication Swim - IMDb, retrieved 2022-01-26
  15. ^ "Sally Wood gives positive update on husband Ronnie's cancer battle - EXCLUSIVE". HELLO!. 2021-05-09. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  16. ^ "Vindication Swim – RelsahFilms". Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  17. ^ Yossman, K. J. (2022-01-28). "Elliott Hasler's 'Vindication Swim' Biopic Casts Douglas Hodge, James Wilby (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2022-01-29.
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