“Maybe the best things that will ever happen to me, haven’t happened yet.”
from But I want to Leave the Party
The evolution of an actress. Picture this: Years of training, multiple auditions, and exhausting disappointments. How to keep going? Then one auspicious year, one’s acting and producing dreams begin to converge into reality.
For actress Tiffany Lauren Bennicke, these dreams are becoming just that — a reality. The toil of hard work is finally producing a harvest visible not only for the artist to enjoy, but the world.
The audience sees an actress’ success as it happens; however, the audience is not witness to the discipline, determination, and dedication required for success in the arts: The hard years. Bennicke’s short film, But I Want to Leave the Party, won best psychological film (2022) at the Cannes World Film Festival, and she won best actress, too. Bennicke is the CEO of Leave the Party Films. It was inspiring speaking with her and learning about her life in show business.
When did your passion for acting evolve?
I was young, very young. I always wanted to be a performer. There is no other occupation or career I could have seen myself doing. I come from Jamaica, and Jamaicans are interesting storytellers. My childhood was surrounded by performers, and this was a big influence on me growing up. Through this process, my talents evolved. Nowadays, I lean more towards foreign films – being able to tell a story – and impact how an audience feels–allows the audience to enter your world. Getting the viewers to feel what you’re feeling is inspiring and intriguing to me.
This is why I am impassioned when it comes to creativity. Through a manifold of experiences (good and bad), I learned to pay attention, to observe. I learned from my experiences. Learning and growing are important and integral for an artist’s evolution. For me, these factors began at a younger age, I think. In Jamaica, the seeds for my interest and passion for the performing arts is where my current passion truly began.
How important is it for you to be original?
What matters to me is being honest, genuine, and real. When someone views my work, my hope is that they experience true emotion from me – that it is not phony. It is my hope that my authentic self (the real me) evinces all the creative outlets I am involved in. Rather than being original, it is important for me to be real—to be honest. Creativity is just that—you create something from within yourself. If the creativity comes from someone else other than me, well then, this work is not me.
Not my voice. It is a copycat or imitation. True originality, I think, must come from within an individual — their soul. I am suggesting that the artist must create enough to find their voice. One’s own voice is very important. My film is my own voice: It is me.
Do you prefer being in front or behind the camera?
My experience behind the camera has been writing and producing, which I love. Of course, my experience in front of the camera has been acting, which I love equally. I enjoy it all. Truly. It is a package deal with me, and I enjoy all the quadrants I perform in my creative endeavours. I work well both as a producer and an actress. It is important for me to mention that there is never a perfect time to start something creative. Never. It is possible for an artist to spend too much time waiting for the right time for creativity to materialize. Without persistent effort (hard work) on one’s craft, the perfect timing never comes. Cannot come.
I make the perfect time happen by simply beginning from where I am in the moment. Just start. Great ideas are not supposed to come to you — it is the job of the creator to make things appear, not the other way around. Create the right time. Do it even if you are tired. You must do it scared, and you must do it (perhaps) feeling unprepared. Motivation for creativity comes and goes – discipline is needed. Through this effort will come an ebullient joy for the elements you are creating. There is joy in producing quality work that comes from my efforts. It may not always begin with joy, but it always ends in satisfaction. Begin it now.
Which roles would you enjoy being known for?
Playing intelligent characters. I enjoy playing complex characters, it is satisfying. Dramas. These are characters (complex) I understand — roles I believe I can emulate successfully. It would be gratifying to be in drama, action, or thriller movies. I can see myself in a variety of roles for different reasons. If a role has an underlying reason for why a character is the way they are, then I am happy to play this role.
Even if a character is silly or psychotic, there will always be a reason – a mechanism for the madness found in either the protagonist’s or antagonist’s output or behavior. There is a root to why someone acts the way they do. When a role has the right amount of complexity in it, that role is for me. I am interested. Naturally, in the real world, human beings are complex. People are not static. No one likes a flat character — not me, anyway. Strong leads are what I would like to be known for. I am up for the challenge. (Smiles)
Do you do anything special to get into character?
No, not really. I will prepare mentally for a character to ensure I can get ‘into’ character. An actor must know their role in all its dynamics. Each role is different; each role requires other facets from me. Physically, I prepare myself for a role by going to the gym more often. Sometimes, actors take classes for a specific role: stunt classes or fencing, etc. There is no one way, and each role will require different approaches. It all depends on what is required for the part.
Was it challenging speaking French since it is not your first language?
Oh, yes! Apparently, I love making things more difficult for myself (laughs). I knew when the film was released it would not only be my supportive French-speaking friends watching the film, but French people worldwide in film festivals – and now distribution on Apple TV and Google Play. I was worried about how I would be perceived – that I employed the help of French speakers. I found people in France and Belgium, and I would record and send them a few paragraphs. No one knew it was for a film. I read lines myself and had them correct me. I was grateful for corrections.
What do you hope for future roles?
Films that move, educate, and perhaps teach people. As I mentioned previously, learning is important for me. If there are social issues people are not aware of, I would like to explore such issues. I am an observer. When I go on trips, I am always learning, even when I am vacationing. My friends are always telling me to take a break. In this respect, an artist is always at work. Films that inform and put quality content for viewers to gain insightful truths from are important for a healthier society. These types of films would, ideally, be my best work. Once again this is a source for passion — for creative opportunity. My first film is about mental health. When I witnessed the reactions to my film – that people did relate–and people were open about their own experiences with illness – this makes the difference. This is what is most integral for me as an actress, writer, and producer. Films that resonate with people are what I want to create. Film that matters.
Why is film important?
It is important to tell stories. Society and literature are largely built on the medium of conveying reality through art. A way of knowing. Stories are used to convey information for survival — a way of governing and articulating one’s way in life. Today, stories are important for awareness, teaching, and entertainment. People turn to entertainment. Every era has had its difficulties through famines, recessions, and wars. Society knows this well. Here is where the outlet (for artists) can express themselves through challenging times and where people (consumers) can enjoy films that cultivate the sentiments of the time. Films bring hope. During times of uncertainty, we look to the theatre to get us through difficult times — and they do — it works; movies work. Imagination is vital for survival. Cinema matters. Telling great stories is always going to be important for humanity.
Jason Waddle | Contributing Writer
