Written by Morgan Leet
Photos by Andrea Katzeff
Although only 25 years old, South African actress Frances Sholto-Douglas has already seen a broad range of success in her acting career. From the Netflix hit, The Kissing Booth, and thrillers like Black Mirror and Troy: Fall of a City, to her many theatre and opera singing performances, she is no stranger to the stage. And it’s just the beginning, with her set to star in SyFy’s Slumber Party, premiering this fall.
After training in acting and musical theatre at the Cape Academy of Performing Arts and going on to receive an Honors Degree in Theatre and Performance from the University of Cape Town, she skyrocketed into her career. She is someone who possesses a clear love for the root of what she does; the art of acting itself. As seen in her performances, she brings a highly skilled technique to each role. Whether in a short film or a huge production, she has the ability to bring the character to life.
In The Kissing Booth, she plays the character Vivian, who is an over-achieving British student council president. More of a comedic role than her previous ones, Frances has shown the audience her ability to have perfect timing, and somehow make you bond with a slightly hard-to-love character. Although she shines bright in deeply emotional roles, the adaptability of her skills is a testament to her caliber as an actress.
From her range in performance types and roles, it’s evident that throughout her career already she has honed in on her craft, and we can’t wait to see where she takes it next.
Flanelle: As an actress and opera singer, what first sparked your love for performance and led you to attend Cape Academy of Performing Arts?
Frances Sholto-Douglas: I would love to say that I watched my first Shakespeare play at three years old and had a moment of clarity, but I honestly can’t say where it started. I remember forcing my parents to watch me improvise plays as a toddler. My sister and I did an offbeat Nativity play once, in which Mary and Joseph contacted different inns via telephone to find a spot for the night. But the passion grew over time, and I was desperate for more opportunities to play pretend and improvise, and that eventually led me to CAPA.
When you first auditioned for The Kissing Booth, did you expect it to gain the kind of popularity that it did?
Frances: I realized it was going to be big when I received my script, which had a Netflix badge on it. The story seemed to be a perfect match for the streaming platform, and I had this gut feeling that it was going to do very well. If I want to watch an award-winning French indie film, I’ll go to a cinema. But, laying in my bed with my laptop open, I’m going to pick the teen comedy about a high school love affair where everyone kisses everyone, and I don’t think I’m alone there. I think the movie proved that its style coupled extremely well with Netflix’s viewership, and it paved the way for a lot of other films like it.
Your role as Vivian is much more light-hearted than some of your previous work. What was the experience of transitioning to this kind of acting like?
Frances: From my experience, comedic timing is much harder to pull off than a dramatic scene. So, I had to buckle up and focus during the Kissing Booth movies. But the best comedic acting advice I’ve gotten is that a character never thinks of themself as funny. So, the more seriously you take the dialogue and the world, the more entertaining it’ll be for the audience. If you think about it that way, there isn’t a difference between acting for comedy and drama – it’s all in the writing!
Can you tell me about your role in Slumber Party?
Frances: I play Maeve. It’s difficult to say much about her without giving too much away, but I can say that she’s a real badass. She’s the mastermind of her friend group (and can come across as a little too pedantic and uncompromising), she’s a huge baseball fan, she’s wildly courageous, and she’s extremely loyal to her friends and family.
With your widespread experience, what has been one of the most rewarding roles for you so far?
Frances: I feel as though I’m just starting, but that’s very flattering! Taren in Bruce MacDonald’s Samson was probably the most educational and dream-fulfilling role I’ve played as it was my first support lead in a movie – which was a period piece! With all the detailed sets and costumes, delving into the imaginary world felt very natural, and Bruce’s directorial approach made the actors feel at ease. I was at drama school while we were filming, and it was one of the first movies I’d acted in, so I was learning on the job, but it pushed me in the right direction and I’m grateful for that.
From live performances like theatre to on-screen work, how do you prepare for a role?
Frances: As an actor, I always love a challenge. Every character and job come with hurdles and overcoming them deepens my understanding and enjoyment of what I do. Stage-fright has been a huge challenge. I used to get very anxious in front of an audience or a big crew, and it would distract me from the character’s world. It’s something I’ve managed to get to the bottom of, though. I still experience nerves, but in a way that allows me to focus more on a scene.
What’s next for you?
Frances: Right now, I’m working on pitching a TV show that I’ve been co-writing, and I’m rehearsing for a play in September. Other than that, we’ll see where auditioning takes me!