The Flinders News

August 21, 2008

Shona Connolly

 

Hawker may be a million miles away from Hollywood but for local youngster Rachel Francis, it is one step closer after her first role in a major movie.

Rachel will make her international film debut playing the role of Ella in the film Last Ride, which stars Hugo Weaving.

The talented 10-year-old studied jazz ballet for five years, which her mother Kathryn Francis said helped prepare her for being in the spotlight.

“Rachel has always been happy to parade on stage,” she said.

The Hawker Area School student has an interest in acting and attended the Port Augusta Re-Imagines film camp held at Pichi Richi Park in July.

“We got to be in a horror movie in the bush, when we watched it I thought it was pretty funny,” Rachel said.

It was Rachel’s younger brother, Andrew, 8, who went along to the Last Ride auditions for the main role of youngster Chook.

“He was too young for the role but they saw Rachel in the background and asked her to audition for the role of Ella,” Miss Francis said. Filming took place in Quorn and it was a long day for Rachel who left Hawker early in the morning to shoot her scene.

“We got home at 10pm, it was very tiring,” she said.

But it was worth the effort, with Rachel saying she really enjoyed the experience and would like tackle more movies roles in the future.

“My friends are very proud of me and have been making presents for me,” Rachel said.

The scene that Rachel shares with character Chook, played by Tom Russell, is a sensitive moment in the film.

“It is sort of sad and it was a bit hard to do,” she said.

Rachel’s chance to meet the star of the movie happened while she was in the make-up trailer on set.

“I had to wear bush makeup not Hollywood makeup,” she said. “Hugo was very nice but I didn’t really talk to him because I was a bit shy.”

And while Rachel is interested in pursuing more film roles, she said she would like to be a vet or a flute player when she grows up