Interview with Sophia Eleni

Sophia, it's such a pleasure to have you with us. Let me start by asking: what did you dream of becoming when you were a child?

— There was never much doubt, really. I always wanted to be an actress. I was a very imaginative child — always creating stories, characters, little worlds in my head — and I think acting was the place where all of that naturally belonged.

What drew me to it, even before I had the language for it, was the transformation. The idea that you could step into another life and make people feel something real. That still feels like the magic of it to me now. The dream hasn’t changed so much as deepened; it’s less about wanting to perform and more about telling stories that leave a mark.

I have a tradition of beginning every interview with this question: at what point in your life did you decide to become an actress?

— I think I knew very early on — probably around seven, when I first went to drama school. Something clicked for me there. It gave me a language I didn’t quite have yet, a way to express all the imagination and emotion I had as a child.

What I loved was that acting made being sensitive, curious, or a little different feel useful rather than strange. It became more than a hobby quite quickly; it felt like a way of understanding people, and eventually myself.

Your filmography is wonderfully diverse: «Dungeons & Dragons», «Call The Midwife», «Tyrant», «Casualty», «Shamrock Spitfire» and many more. Could you tell us which project has been the most significant for you so far and why?

— I think The Shamrock Spitfire will always be one of the most significant projects for me. I’ve always been fascinated by history, particularly the Second World War, and because it was a true story, I felt a real responsibility to approach it with care.

I played a nurse whose resilience is tested during the war, so I did a lot of research into nurses of that era — not just the practical side of their work, but the emotional restraint and quiet strength they would have needed. These were women who had to keep going in extraordinary circumstances, often without any fuss or recognition.

It was also the first role that brought me international Best Actress awards, which made it a turning point professionally. But what stayed with me most was the chance to honour a kind of courage that was very quiet, very practical, and deeply human.

In addition to your on‑screen work, you're also a voice actress. What do you enjoy most about the voice acting process?

— What I love most about voice acting is the freedom. You’re not confined by a particular look, so the range of what you can play becomes much wider — different ages, worlds, species, realities. There’s something very freeing about that as an actor.

I’m particularly drawn to video games because the storytelling can be so layered now. The characters often have real emotional arcs, and the themes can be incredibly nuanced — survival, loss, identity, morality, resilience. It asks a lot of you emotionally, even when the world itself is heightened or fantastical.

And I love the intimacy of it. The voice gives away everything. A breath, a pause, a tiny shift in tone can completely change a scene. That level of detail really excites me.

Fans have heard your voice in games like «Cairn», «Game of Sultans», «Assassin's Creed Mirage» — which is amazing. Do you ever play the games you've been part of?

— Yes, I do! With games, it’s fascinating to finally experience the work from the player’s side, because your performance becomes part of this much bigger living world.

Cairn has been the most special for me so far. I voice Aava, the main playable character, so the journey is very personal to me. You’re with her through every moment — the physical endurance, the isolation, the fear, the determination — and as an actor, that’s an extraordinary thing to carry.

What I love about Cairn is that it’s much more than a climbing game. The landscapes, the score and the atmosphere are beautiful, but beneath that it’s really about resilience, inner struggle, and the parts of ourselves we’re trying to reach. Playing it back was very moving, because I could experience Aava’s journey as a whole, not just in fragments from the recording booth.

Congratulations on the release of «Bone Keeper» where you play one of the lead roles. Are there any interesting behind‑the‑scenes moments or stories you could share with us?

— One thing people might not realise is that we filmed in real caves in Wales, so a lot of the atmosphere in Bone Keeper wasn’t manufactured. It was genuinely dark, cold, claustrophobic and physically demanding, which really fed into the tension of the film!

We were also shooting about a month before my wedding, which made the whole thing feel slightly surreal! I remember thinking, “This is either the most ridiculous decision I’ve ever made, or the coolest job in the world”.

What was the most memorable moment for you while filming «Bone Keeper»?

— Aside from the intense cave sequences, some of my most memorable moments were actually the quieter ones we filmed out in nature. We shot in these beautiful, wild locations in Wales, and there was a real contrast between the darkness of the caves and the openness of the landscape.

One location that really stayed with me was the cottage belonging to John Rhys-Davies’ character. The cottage itself had this fascinating medieval history, including old witch marks above the fireplace, which were traditionally made to ward off evil spirits. So even when we weren’t filming, the locations had their own atmosphere and mythology. For a film like Bone Keeper, that felt very fitting — as if the landscape itself was part of the story!

What was it like working alongside a legendary actor like John Rhys‑Davies?

— What a lovely man. We had so many interesting chats over dinner in the cottage during our time filming with him about science and his career. He even shared a few acting tips along the way!

Have you ever watched «The Lord of the Rings»? Do you enjoy fantasy universes in general and if so, which one is your personal favourite?

— Yes I have – and John is actually very tall! Nothing at all like Gimli in Lord of the Rings! So, as you can imagine I was quite taken aback!

I do love fantasy. I’m drawn to it when the world-building is huge, but the themes are still very human — power, loyalty, grief, survival, identity. That’s when fantasy becomes really interesting to me. My personal favourite universe is probably Game of Thrones. I love the political tension, the moral complexity, and the fact that so many of the characters sit somewhere between heroic and dangerous. As an actor, that kind of world is very exciting.

Which genres do you most enjoy working in?

— Any kind of survival/psychological thriller, period drama, fantasy, and political drama.

How do you feel about improvisation on set?

— I like improvisation when it serves the scene. I don’t think it should be about showing off; it should come from listening, reacting, and being really alive in the moment.

Sometimes, once you’re on set, the rhythm of a line or action naturally changes because of the space, the other actor, or the physical reality of what you’re doing. A tiny adjustment can make a scene feel much more human.

If you could play any existing character, who would it be and why?

— Cersei Lannister from Game of Thrones. She’s such a brilliant contradiction — powerful, dangerous, glamorous, wounded, and deeply vulnerable underneath all that armour. She’s terrifying but deeply human.

Do you have any hobbies? What do you love to do in your spare time?

— I really enjoy composing music — anything from trip-hop to more cinematic pieces. It’s something I can completely lose myself in. I also love the gym; it’s genuinely my happy place and helps me clear my head.

What upcoming projects can we expect to see or hear you in?

— Later this year, I’ll be appearing in As Night Falls, where I play the lead role of Jane. It’s a psychological thriller-horror about a group of survivors hiding out in an industrial estate while being hunted by an entity that can take on human form — so nobody really knows who they can trust. It’s a dark, brutal story, but Jane was such a compelling character to play. She’s a vet, and in this unforgiving world she uses her medical knowledge, resilience and compassion to hold onto some sense of humanity.

Alongside that, I have several lead roles in AAA video game projects releasing this year, which I’m incredibly excited for people to experience. I can’t reveal too much just yet, but they’re some of the most ambitious projects I’ve worked on — so there’s definitely a lot coming.

Favorite movie?

— «Alien».

Favorite TV series?

— «Black Mirror».

Favorite game?

— «Uno».

Favorite book?

— The Sadness of Witches by Janice Elliott.

Favorite quote?

— «What’s for you will not go past you».

Favorite color?

— Gunmetal blue.

Favorite singer/band/composer?

— Massive Attack.

Your favorite song?

— Unfinished Sympathy by Massive Attack.

Three recent songs you've added to your playlist?

— Crazy by Seal, Just The Way You are by Milky, Song 2 by Blur.

What's your house from Game of Thrones?

— House Tyrell.

What's your Hogwarts House?

— Slytherin.

Marvel or DC?

— Marvel — although I’d absolutely cross over to DC for a really dark, complicated villain.

Describe yourself in 3 words.

— Driven, intuitive, resilient.

Do you have an idol and if you do, who is it and why?

— Sigourney Weaver. She helped define what a female lead in sci-fi and action could be — strong, intelligent, capable, but still completely human.

What superpower would you like to have and why?

— Teleportation. I love the idea of being able to have breakfast in Paris, lunch in New York and still make it home in time to sleep in my own bed!