SA star turns her hand to writing screenplays for two feature films
Adelaide actor Tilda Cobham-Hervey, who stars as singer Helen Reddy in the new film I Am Woman, has turned her hand to writing screenplays for two features which just received funding.
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Circus performer turned international movie actor Tilda Cobham-Hervey is adding another skill to her ever-expanding repertoire – as a screenwriter on two new feature film projects.
Adelaide’s Tilda is adapting the novel Irma Voth, by Canadian author Miriam Toews, and co-writing the screenplay of Robert Wainwright’s biography Sheila with Dance Academy co-creator Samantha Strauss.
Both were among 42 film, TV and online projects which received development funding in the latest round announced by Screen Australia.
Irma Voth is being developed with director Sophie Hyde from Glenside company Closer Productions, and is based on book author Miriam’s real-life experience when she was cast as the lead actor in a Mexican film set in an isolated, strict Mennonite community.
“Tilda is very much a collaborator, so she’s already working with us a lot of the time in a bigger creative capacity than an actor,” Sophie says.
“She came to us with this book that she wanted to adapt … she’s been reading this author’s work for some time. Irma Voth is like the opposite extreme to Tilly, in terms of how she was raised, but the character spoke very strongly to her.”
On the other hand, Sheila will tell the true story of Australian socialite Sheila Chisholm, who became the “It girl” of British high society during World War I, married three times – including once to a Russian prince – and had close relationships with future English kings, brothers George VI and Edward VIII.
Tilda has previously written two short films, A Field Guide to Being a 12-Year-Old Girl (for Closer Productions) and the forthcoming animated work Roborovski which she co-directed with her partner, fellow actor Dev Patel.
The latest funding will also enable Irma Voth’s filmmakers to engage a composer to create the score for a “mood reel” with an editor, to share work around while much of the industry is still shut down because of COVID-19.
Tilda has been in her “other” home of Los Angeles, but was trying to get back to Australia for the launch of her film I Am Woman – in which she plays singer Helen Reddy – on streaming service Stan on August 28.
Premiere screenings of I Am Woman will also be held at Palace Nova Eastend and Prospect, and Wallis Cinemas Mitcham, on August 22 and 23.
Book at adelaidefilmfestival.org