Lauren Patel: An Actress Who Believes That Stories on Screen Can Show Us the Power of Listening, Learning, and Understanding
Lauren Patel made her debut in the film Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, which follows teen Jamie New’s dream of becoming a drag queen. After spending hours at the theatre as a child and developing her early career as an extra on various shows, Lauren discovered that acting was what she always had wanted to do. Now, she looks forward to representing her community on screen as the character Pritti Pasha, who she believes everyone can learn something from. She speaks to us about her experience on set, her role in the film Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, and navigating the film industry as a young person of color. Catch Lauren in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, which is set to premiere worldwide on Amazon Prime Video on September 17th.
DRESS by CONSTANCE BURKE / EARRINGS by ALIGHIERI
How did you first get into film and acting?
It was always something that I loved to do. I went to the theatre and panto when I was little, and just thought it was so magical. During the summer holidays, I’d work as an extra on some soaps and CBBC shows that filmed up north [in the UK], and I just loved being on set. I’d only just started considering it as a proper career before Jamie came along. I’d said to myself, “Okay–I’ll go do acting at uni and then see where it goes, I can always do it on the side and maybe I’ll get a small part in a film in 10 years time or something.”
Tell us about the process of auditioning for your debut film, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.
I was putting off doing my drama homework and was scrolling through one of those “open audition” websites. I used to go to open calls up north every now and then, just for the experience. I saw a casting for someone that fit my description and sent in a little video telling them about myself. A week later, I met with our director, Jonathan Butterell, and our composer/lyricist Dan Gillespie Sells to read some scenes and sing through Pritti’s songs. I went down to London and did a chemistry read with the lovely Max Harwood, who’d already been cast as Jamie. Then I came back to Sheffield and did a camera test. It all happened so fast–I sent off my first tape on the 5th of May and found out I got the job on the 25th!
Can you describe your experience with Everybody’s Talking About Jamie? What have you enjoyed most about acting in the film?
I genuinely couldn’t have had a better first job. The whole team was so supportive. It was a lot of people’s first film ever or first film of this scale, so we were all kind of figuring it out together, which was lovely. I think the thing that I enjoyed most was the people. I was lucky to get time to know our group of dancers/actors playing the year 11 class before we started shooting and I am still close with a lot of them now. I know I’m completely biased, but they really are amazing in this film.
JACKET by LOTTIE EVERETT / DRESS by MEADOWS at COUVERTURE AND GARBSTORE / EARRINGS by FARIS at COUVERTURE AND GARBSTORE / SOCKS by FALKE SHOES by GRENSON
What are some of the biggest things that you’ve learned, either as an actor or as a person, from your time on set?
I learned so much just from watching. I sat at the monitors watching the other cast members do their scenes, watching our incredible year 11 dancers and Kate Prince’s dance team teach us the choreography, and watching how Dan and Jonny worked in the recording studio. The whole time I was there I was just trying to take in as much as possible.
Could you tell us about the character you play, Pritti Pasha? Do you see yourself in Pritti, in any form, or relate to her in any way?
Pritti is Jamie’s best friend. She’s very sensible and knows exactly where she wants to be in 10 years time. She is a polar opposite of Jamie, but they are each other’s rocks. The film follows Jamie realizing he wants to be a drag queen and how the people in his life (including Pritti) support him or don’t. Our director, Jonny, told me that me and Pritti have a very similar energy, and I definitely relate to her discovering drag throughout the film, as when we started shooting, I barely knew anything about it! So, I got to discover it by watching Max and the other drag queens perform.
What do you think other people can learn from Pritti’s role and actions in the film?
I think the wonderful thing about Pritti is that she’s always trying to understand. And I feel like that’s all that people ask for when sharing a vulnerable part of themselves. When Jamie tells her he wants to be a drag queen, she doesn’t get it, but she asks for more information because she wants to get it, because she cares. And I think nowadays when people see something they don’t understand, a lot of them just run in the opposite direction, instead of listening and learning.
SHIRT by SIGRID MARIA / SKIRT and WAISTCOAT by HANNAH GEORGE VINTAGE / EARRINGS by MODERN WEAVING at COUVERTURE AND GARBSTORE / SOCKS by FALKE / SHOES by GRENSON
JUMPSUIT by CONSTANCE BURKE / EARRINGS by FARIS at COUVERTURE AND GARBSTORE / SHOES by GRENSON
Growing up, did you feel that there was enough South Asian representation on screen?
I can think of a couple of South Asian girls I saw on British TV growing up, but nowhere near enough. I thought there were barely any South Asian people living in America until I was a teenager. Because I just never saw them. And the ones I did were in stereotypical roles with very thick Indian accents. So no. I like to think that things are changing. But I think that we need to strive for diversity behind the camera as well as in front of it, otherwise nothing will really change.
Is there any particular message you hope to spread to other young people of color, perhaps to those who also wish to follow in your footsteps?
I would say to watch as much as you can and read as many scripts as you can. Stories that represent you are out there being made, but a lot of them get buried, so you have to look a little harder.
“…I think that we need to strive for diversity behind the camera as well as in front of it, otherwise nothing will really change.”
Aside from acting, is there any other passion or hobby of yours which you are currently pursuing?
Any craft-style hobby, I’ll do. Baking, sewing, painting—you name it. I’m currently making a rug from scratch, which is going to take forever; I’ve never done it before so it might look awful, but at least it’s keeping me entertained!
DRESS by REJINA PYO Pyo at COUVERTURE AND GARBSTORE / EARRINGS by MODERN WEAVING at COUVERTURE AND GARBSTORE
What advice would you share with other young people who are attempting to make their way through the film industry?
Don’t wait until you feel like you’re a “proper actor” to start acting because that day will never come. Start making stuff now! Find monologues to work on, write scripts, get your friends together, and film something on your phone. Look at open auditions in your area and just go for it! But also, make sure you have other things in your life that bring you joy apart from acting. There’s a lot of rejection, but if you have other hobbies or projects or people in your life that make you happy as well, it makes it a lot more bearable.
Just a fun question: If you were starting your own new city, what are three things you would require from all inhabitants? (They can be anything!)
They have four legs, they have tails, and they say “meow.” (They’re cats, I would have a city full of cats).
Do you have any last words of advice for fans and for people listening?
If you substitute the egg in your cookies for a vegan alternative then you can eat as much of the dough as you want without a tummy ache.* (*Not scientifically proven, please don’t sue me.)
STORY ISHITA SHAH
PHOTOS MOLLIE ROSE
MAKEUP MARIA COMPARETTO
HAIR SHUKEEL MURTAZA
STYLIST ANNABEL LUCEY @ FRANK AGENCY