Lee Levi graces our July cover, and we had the pleasure of sitting down with her to delve into the remarkable journey that has taken her from the serene, tiny island of Roemoe in Denmark to the dazzling lights of Hollywood. From a young age, Lee was captivated by the world of cinema, thanks to her family’s profound love for movies. Her mother, in particular, nurtured her passion by introducing her to the works of Alfred Hitchcock and other great filmmakers. Now, as she prepares for two leading roles in upcoming films, Lee opens up about her inspirations, her struggles, and her evolving understanding of success in the acting world.
Q&A Interview
Q: From your early days in Denmark to your distinguished studies at Cambridge, how has your upbringing influenced your approach to the performing arts?
A: I grew up on a small island in southern Denmark, Roemoe, with a population of just 500 people. I think I always knew what I wanted. I wanted to perform, to go abroad and study Performing Arts. I come from a family that truly loves movies. It’s thanks to my mum that I have developed a knowledge and love for cinema. She wanted me to watch all the Alfred Hitchcock movies from when I was about ten years old. I will never forget the first time I watched “The Birds”. I was truly traumatised. It wasn’t an ordinary childhood of watching cartoons and such.
My mother wanted me to learn about the greatest filmmakers in history and the best actors. It was when I saw Alfred Hitchcock’s passion for blondes that I dreamed of being one of them if I could and lived in that time. My favourite was Grace Kelly. I simply always believed that I could be on the screen and people would come and watch the movies I was in. It was my biggest dream. When I turned sixteen, I moved to Cambridge, UK, to study English and Performing Arts. At eighteen, I went to study at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in LA, then the Lee Strasberg Institute in LA, and finished when I was twenty-one.
Q: How has your diverse background in ballet, jazz, hip-hop, and martial arts enriched your versatility as an actress?
A: I think that being able to do as much as possible as an actress increases your creativity and ability to do more. After all, performing arts is all that. The arts encompass film, singing, dancing (though I am not such a good singer).
But martial arts are also part of it. I want to grow and learn and be able to do as much as I can as an actress. Because we play characters. And characters are diverse. Characters have their own backgrounds and lives. That’s also why language is important. The more things we are able to do as performers, the more possibilities we will have, I believe.
Q: In “American Night,” you shared the screen with renowned actors like Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Michael Madsen. How did this experience enhance your craft?
A: “American Night” was my first movie. I worked a lot in television, reality shows, radio shows, and modelling campaigns prior to that. I lived in Israel for eight years, and my career started there. I was so happy and excited about being on set with these incredible actors. My scene partner was Emile Hirsch, and Jeremy Piven, who is a fantastic actor. I did feel nervous at the start, but immediately felt comfortable as it was such a good experience. Everyone was professional and kind, and they taught me a lot.
Q: With two films in pre-production for 2024, what can audiences look forward to in your upcoming projects, and how do you select roles that resonate with you?
A: I will be filming two films this autumn, and I am playing a lead role in both. It’s a massive milestone for me. First of all, it has to be projects and stories I would love to tell to an audience. Strong characters, strong stories that will give the audience goosebumps. That’s the feeling I myself want to feel when I watch someone on the screen. I want to be touched. I am not a big fan of comedies. Not that I will exclude comedies from my journey as an actress, but I am deeply involved in stories that will touch the audience. I would rather have someone cry (in a good way) than make someone laugh. If that makes sense….
I want to portray difficult characters in my journey as an actress. I think you’ll see that the two lead characters I will portray in the next two films are very strong women who have struggled in life, but they won’t give up on what they believe in and dream of.
Q: As someone who juggles the roles of actress, model, and producer, what insights can you share about maintaining a balance between these demanding careers?
A: I don’t find it difficult to juggle these roles because they are so similar to each other. It is the same industry, after all.
What I do find challenging at times is when the overload of work gets too much. Too many flights, and if I need to switch from one character into another one, in no time. It’s challenging but also very exciting. Good “stress” is when we find meaning in what we do. And I luckily only experience good stress lately. I have experienced “bad stress”, especially last year, which was a hard year for me. But it made me learn how to take unnecessary things out of my life, and I also understood, finally after so long, that doing more doesn’t make you more successful.
I used to believe that the more I would do – I mean: the bigger variety of things I would do – the more I would get. I would open a nail salon, do a clothing line, a skincare line, be a producer, an actress, a model, and more than that. I was chasing and chasing, but I didn’t have enough time to focus on the thing that matters most to me: being an actress. I didn’t study, read, or focus deeply on audition work. It made me lose. Now that I have swiped most of the above away, I am fully engaged in being the best actress I could be. I focus on my auditions and my creativity. That doesn’t mean I won’t take some of these things up again at some point, but not now.
Q: For those aspiring to follow in your footsteps, what pearls of wisdom would you impart to help them navigate the complexities of the entertainment world?
A: People say it’s a tough industry. It is, yes. But it’s also beautiful. I think it’s important to remove the fear of “what could happen”. It is an industry, like so many others, that will give you a thousand “no’s” before one yes. You need to be committed 1000%. Learn and study from the best in the industry. Watch a lot of movies. Movies, for me, are my number one learning tool. If you get an agent, don’t expect the agent to do all the work. It’s an industry where it’s teamwork, and you can’t lie back and think it will come to you. Reach out to directors, casting directors, and production companies. I was sending thousands of emails to people when I moved to LA. I probably got below ten replies back, but it’s an industry where you can’t lose your hunger, and if you get rejected: see it as an opportunity to do better, instead of seeing it as an obstacle. It’s important to have a healthy and calm routine, I think.
Especially for me. Last year I burned out, and it wasn’t a good experience. I was doing too much, and it was an “unhealthy stress” – meaning I started to lose meaning in what I was doing. Then there comes a burnout. I have a really calm life in Denmark. I love it. I am surrounded by nature. I make sure to eat healthy, exercise, and sleep a lot. I am a person who requires lots of sleep, at least eight hours. I am an ambassador for Opatra London, which is a beauty technology brand, and they have incredible devices for your skin. I use the LED light devices from them a few times a week. Especially the Dermisonic II.
Q: Your multifaceted career suggests a relentless pursuit of excellence. How do you define success, and what keeps you motivated to achieve it?
A: I used to believe success was only when I had “closed a deal” or when I landed that role. But it is as much defined as success when you do an audition, get a callback, and do meetings with brands or people you always dreamed of. Success is truly defined in how you continue pursuing your dreams. This year, a lot changed for me after my tough year in 2023. I changed my perspective and understood that my whole journey is a success. Also, the less good things that happened. It’s not the end result; it’s the whole journey. Because out of the failures and the bad things life is able to throw at us, we learn, and we stand up and continue. That’s success – when we don’t lose hope and can continue where we left off. And I owe that to myself. The person who truly motivates me is myself. Whenever I want to stop and quit, I think about the ten-year-old Lee who grew up on a small island and had such big dreams.
As Lee Levi continues her journey in the world of acting, she remains down-to-earth, driven, and truly inspiring. Her story shows us the power of dreams, resilience, and pursuing one’s passion. From the peaceful shores of Roemoe to the lively sets of Hollywood, Lee’s adventure is just beginning. With each role she takes on, she not only entertains but also inspires a new generation of dreamers. We at British THOUGHTS Magazine are delighted to follow her growing career and share her story with you, our readers. One thing is certain: Lee Levi is a name that will keep shining brightly in the world of cinema.
On the Cover: Lee Levi
Photographer: Alex Zainea
Hair: Walter Stojas
Mua: Frankie Neal
Styling: Rebecca Bonavia
Location | Henry’s Townhouse
For the Cover, #LeeLevi wears a dress by @junna.studio.
and ring by @matildemozzanega