'Art was left as a gift'

Nina Millns

Actress, Musician and Writer

Growing up Nina Millns was aware that she had an alternative lifestyle. Her father’s background as a musician meant that her family welcomed many artists into their home. Because of this, it gave her the opportunity to mix with others involved in the creative industries which was a novelty as a child.

A little bit of background

• Music was an initial influence in her early life, involving herself in bands when growing up.
• Acting intruded on her life as she took many lead roles in school plays.

For a while she balanced both of these creative practices but there came a point when it was necessary to choose what to study further. Millns attended East 15 in London, which she describes as the most alternative of the reputable drama schools there, producing talent such as Mike Leigh and Alison Steadman.

  

A global look

The actor has a global look due to her genes. Initially this was deemed to be a negative quality at drama school but it turned out to be a huge asset as it allowed her to play a variety of different nationalities (for example, the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo). 

Bringing characters to life

Key technique: Stanislavski’s method of acting.

1. Looking at clues and information in a text to ascertain how the characters interact with each other;
2. Think about characters’ objectives and what methods are used to achieve these;
3. Identifying the obstacles in the way;
4. Understanding how the characters evolve in the text.

‘Lines, scribbles and colours all over the text’ this is how Millns breaks it up and brings characters to life.

Portolio for auditions

• Monologues;
• Dynamic and interesting speeches;
• Uncomfortable humour..

She is most inspired by characters with an edge: if there is something you don’t like about them then it’s a role to get your teeth into.

Important moments in her career

• Acting in a show at the Edinburgh festival - it received rave reviews, sold out every night and made a profit!
• Winning a monologue slam competition which enabled her to perform off Broadway in New York; she sees the acknowledgement and reward of her work as a huge confidence boost.
• Playing Frida Kahlo in a production both at the Arcola Theatre and Stratford Circus. She found engaging and exciting because she had never played anyone celebrated before.

Writing and the studio

To complement her acting, she likes writing her own sketches and monologues. This takes place in a corner office space.

• A good working environment: more related to the feelings associated with the room.
• She surrounds herself with possessions to create the right atmosphere. 
• Silence is a necessity. 
• A bit of adversity: Stressful situations force her to be more creative - ‘being too comfortable can be a bit of a killing of creativity sometimes.’ 

Check out Nina Millns' website for the latest news about her career!