In an exclusive interview, Flickering Myth sat down with Rosie Roy to talk about her latest movie We Only Have Tonight alongside Alonso Garcia.
Hi Rosie Roy, welcome to Flickering Myth! Can you tell us a bit about your background?
Bien sûr! I’m a French-Canadian woman, the youngest among four siblings, and the sole family member with an insatiable wanderlust. Although dance has been my lifelong passion, it seems that fate has brought me here to Los Angeles—a city I never imagined returning to let alone pursuing my acting career in place of dance.
From the world of dance to acting – what prompted you to be an actor?
You know that little voice inside of you that nags at you year after year? Well, it took me about 30 years to finally listen to it. And yes, I’m subtly hinting at my age to emphasize that when it comes to careers, age really is just a number. My earliest memory dates back to grade one when my teacher, Mary, asked the class what we wanted to be when we grew up. Young Rosie confidently declared, “I want to be an actress.” Did I pursue acting after that? Nope! But I did excel in dance. Fast forward through life, mid-twenties, I found myself in a relationship, following a conventional 9-5 job path, which replaced my dance career, and preparing to settle into the eventual role of a mother and wife. Now, don’t get me wrong, I still desired that future, but my career wasn’t fulfilling me. I found myself jumping from one job to the next, and looking back, it’s clear—I wasn’t in my element.
Then came 2020, the year of the pandemic. It was a gift from the universe, forcing me to lose my initial job while I was juggling two jobs. This pause gave me the opportunity for some deep soul searching about my desires and goals. One of those goals was to take an acting class. Fast forward one year, and as I looked at my list of aspirations, I realised that one thing remained uncrossed: The acting class. It dawned on me that for an entire year, it had been on my mind, I had written it down, yet I hadn’t taken action. So, I did. I left my second job, travelled to Long Beach to stay with my Aunt and Uncle for three months, and enrolled in my very first online acting class. And VOILÀ! The rest, as they say, is history… at least for now because my story isn’t over.
What are some of your early experiences of acting?
Funny thing is, I never had any theatre or drama classes growing up. They just weren’t available at my schools. Honestly, I got serious about acting around three years ago. Now, I’ve been doing short films for almost two years, had a co-star role in a feature film, and landed the lead in my very first theatre play in March 2024. But even back in elementary I used to close the living room door and imagine scenes in my head, or pretend I was an action hero crawling across the couch to the Mission: Impossible theme song. Any chance I got, I’d try to mimic a character or scene from a movie.
Even romantic classics like The Sound of Music, where Rolfe and Liesl share the iconic serenade “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” in the film. It’s like I wished for those moments to happen in my own life. So, most of my early acting experiences happened at home, in my room.
Tell us about the movie, We Only Have Tonight.
The movie centres on a widowed woman struggling with the recent loss of her husband. One evening, she is going through a box containing his belongings, only to find him mysteriously returning to convey a message to her. Despite having just one night together, she is consumed by the guilt of not bidding him a proper farewell. His brief return acts as a catalyst, helping her regain her footing and ultimately move on with her life.
What character do you play?
I portray the character of Emily, a grieving and broken woman putting up a shield of protection as she struggles to let go. Although my personal life doesn’t mirror Emily’s story at first glance, there’s a profound intimacy and personal connection I feel with her character that drew me not only to her but also to the script itself.
How did you prepare for the role?
READ READ READ. I read the script countless times—not just my lines, but the entire script—trying to catch any underlying character thoughts or feelings that I might have missed. At the time, I was also taking an acting class that truly helped me prepare for this role and create Emily’s background story and character thoughts. Additionally, what sometimes works for me is incorporating Emily into my daily activities. For example, I might find myself slipping into her mindset while folding clothes or taking a shower. I contemplate: “Who is she to me? To her husband? To society?”
I feel that sometimes, many people misunderstand the demands of being an actor. I knew entering this profession would be challenging—not only due to the slim to none chances of success, but also because of the immense effort required behind the scenes. It’s not just about memorizing lines or portraying emotions; it involves a significant amount of character analysis, stress handling, and building confidence. It’s about being confident in your choices and fully committing to the authentic moment shared with your scene partner without second-guessing yourself. As an actor, why they say trust the process, I say trust the moment.
How can we see the film… what’s the plan for it?
The movie is nearing the end of post-production and will be ready to be submitted to film festivals next month. I, myself, have not yet seen any footage of it. I always prefer to keep this as a surprise. I also never enjoy looking at myself during filming; I prefer to wait until the final product is finished because I believe that once you start doing so, your ego becomes involved, and the true essence of being an actor is no longer present. Once everything is ready, I will be sharing the link on my IG account for all to watch.
What’s up next for you?
I’m thrilled for the upcoming months. I’m producing my very first short scheduled to be filmed this July. Additionally, in June, I’ll be acting in a horror/thriller film directed by a fellow Quebecois who is a talented film director here in Los Angeles. I take pride in my French Canadian roots, and I’m always eager to collaborate and work with people from back home and all corners of the world. This is what I truly love about LA —to join forces with fellow creatives and share our stories through various forms of expression to be portrayed on screen.
How can people follow your journey?
My eyes can only take so much screen time (hence why I don’t have many social media accounts) therefore the best way to stay in the know is through my IG account @rosie_roy.
Our thanks to Rosie Roy for taking the time for this interview and to Liz Rodriguez from EMR Media for helping us with the interview.
