Several months ago, I happened to interview an actor by the name of Curtis Lum, and in a serendipitous moment, orchestrated by the Heavens above, he told me of a show he had just booked called Siren. From that moment, I began to pay attention to other actors who had been cast in the show (I was thrilled to discover that my friend Tammy Gillis was in it!). Due to my attentive eyes and commitment to this soon-to-be-released show, I noticed actress Hannah Levien. While I was mostly unfamiliar with her work, I knew I longed for the opportunity to feature her in conjunction with the premiere. She promptly agreed to a chat, and with the premiere suddenly upon us, I am honored to share this astounding woman with all of my readers today!
RH: Hannah, I am so glad it worked out to talk with you today. I became aware of you because of the show Siren that is coming up.
HL: Oh, yes, thank you, Ruth. It’s exciting. We premiere this week!
I have interviewed Tammy Gillis and Curtis Lum, so they were the ones who told me about the show. Actually, Curtis told me about it first. He had just booked it when I interviewed him.
Oh, that’s wonderful.
Now, you are from Australia, correct?
Yes, I am Australian and currently living between Vancouver and Los Angeles.
How did you get started in acting?
From a really early age, it was something I always wanted to do. I was always drawn to film, and I loved putting on plays. I have a big family, and I loved doing all sorts of entertainment. My brothers and sisters really enjoyed that. As I got older, it became more of a focus for me. I got the acting bug, and I wanted to stick with it. I’ve also always enjoyed writing and creating things. So when it came time to audition for drama school at the end of my senior year of high school, all my friends were going and partying, and I was learning monologues and plays for my drama school auditions. My second preference was creative writing. That’s what I would have done if I hadn’t gotten into drama school. Most drama schools worldwide are pretty competitive, and if I didn’t get into that, I wanted to go to the school for creative writing. I definitely thought I would end up in some part of the industry.
Did you study drama in Australia?
Yes, I did drama school in Australia; it’s a three-year program. It’s kind of like Juilliard or one of those conservatory training programs in London. The training was full-time and pretty intense. When I graduated, I started doing a lot of professional theater in my hometown, which was great, and then moved into film.
I have talked with a few people who have moved from Australia to Canada or LA to pursue a career, but there are a handful of people I know who actually go to Australia to study because they say the acting schools in Australia have a really unique way of teaching you. So some people choose to go study there.
Interesting. I don’t know of too many, and certainly, in my drama school, there were no foreign students, but I could see the appeal for sure. And I think Australian actors have a pretty good reputation.
What was your first acting gig in TV or film?
The first film I booked was an independent feature film called The Horseman. It won a lot of awards playing festivals all over the world. I played a teenage runaway, and the movie is basically about my dad avenging my death. It’s one of those pretty rough, violent Australian movies, and it did really well. And that definitely launched me, to an extent, into a bigger market. I had a few other film opportunities come from that. I then got picked up by a manager in the U.S. who agreed to represent me, and they brought me out to LA and started putting me out to that market. And that’s where it all started.
I actually saw The Returned. I had a friend who did a guest spot on it, so I remember that one. And I notice you have also been in Supernatural. I regularly hear such fantastic things about working on that show. A lot of my actor friends in Vancouver have either been on the show, want to get on the show, or want to go back on the show.
I was very lucky. As a younger person, I enjoyed watching Supernatural, and I always wanted to play a demon. I was super stoked when I not only got to play a demon, but a demon in the two hundredth episode. I had some really fun dialogue and scenes.
With The Returned, I was super stoked to work on that show because I loved the French version of that show. My role was actually meant to be quite a bit bigger, but it got cut down a bit which often happens in this business. It’s one of those things you have to come to terms with because it happens to everyone. It’s one of the downsides of being an actor. But I loved my character and I had so much fun doing that show.
Now, you’ve had a recurring role on The Magicians. I know a lot of people who have been a part of that show. I have not had a chance to watch the show yet, but it is one of those shows that is on my radar. I don’t know if you’ve worked with any of my friends.
Well, it is one of those shows that’s got a good-sized cast with lots of storylines. One of my friends is a recurring guest star this season. We’re best friends and we have scenes where we’re kind of in the same scene, but not really, and we actually never get to work together.
It is a show that I want to sit down and binge watch from the beginning when I have the chance. I think it will make more sense if I watch it from the beginning rather than try to jump in right now.
I understand that. It is in the third season now, and I believe the season finale is coming soon. The show has also been confirmed for a fourth season.
When did you join the show?
My character came in the first season, and I had a storyline where I was trapped in a dungeon. I get rescued, and I came back in season three.
That helps to know that because sometimes if I don’t know to watch for someone, I might miss them in a show. So now I know when to watch for you. Now before we get to Siren, I notice you are in season four of UnREAL. I know you probably can’t talk about it since season three is airing now.
Yes, I am in season four. I don’t know the airdate for season four, but it’s gonna be a lot of fun. {laughs}
I have followed UnREAL from the beginning. I started watching because of Brennan Elliott, who plays the host Graham. I absolutely love the show, and it’s one of my favorites.
There are only eight episodes in season four of UnREAL, so it is a shorter season. I really love the show, and I think it’s great. I had auditioned for the show many, many times, so I was really stoked to get on it. Really great cast. I think the writing is great. I just love the tone of the show. They’ve really got it going on, and I hope that everyone will watch it now and, of course, continue to watch in season four.
The big thing coming up for you presently is Siren. So how did you get involved with this show?
Like most things, I auditioned, and I was fortunate to get a really cool character that I booked pretty early on in the show. I will be in the two-hour premiere on March 29th on Freeform. I play the character of Janine. I’m actually in a relationship with the character played by Curtis Lum. That’s really awesome because Curtis and I were actually friends, and I was joking with him that of all the male actors I know–because I know quite a few actors at this point–I never pictured him and me playing girlfriend and boyfriend. I mean, Curtis is a good-looking guy, but I never saw it. And there we were kissing and being in a relationship on screen. He is just awesome to work with. Essentially, my character is dating him, and then she is friends with two of the main characters, Ben and Xander, played by Alex Roe and Ian Verdun. I basically get swept up with what’s going on in the town with the mermaids and just go along for the ride.
When I first heard about the show, I wasn’t too sure about mermaids. When I think of mermaids, the Disney version comes to mind. And a lot of people I told about the show had that reaction initially. What do you think will be different about the way this show approaches mermaids?
Siren
Well, I think if you watch the trailer, you definitely get the idea how it’s different. I think we’re very used to seeing mermaids. I used to be a children’s birthday party entertainer. So I had seen and played many, many mermaids. But those are certainly very different to these mermaids. There are shows that feature mermaids and have that “Little Mermaid” mold to them, but I think audiences are ready for something different. This show is aimed at an older audience. It tells the tale of a small town called Bristol Cove which has a history of not only mermaids walking among the people there, but also causing trouble with their siren powers and their ways of being. We fast-forward to modern day where this legend has come to be once more and maybe all those stories that the town talks about are actually true. We get this idea pretty quickly that mermaids whilst being beautiful and mystical and alluring also have a pretty dangerous streak to them. And it’s really cool because it’s kind of creature versus man and also man’s fascination with creatures and his fascination with the sea and also abusing the sea to an extent as well. I think they’re tackling a lot within the show. The scripts are great, and the show looks awesome. Lots of great female characters too, which is great to see, and I know Freeform are doing a fantastic job of that especially lately. I really hope that everyone is gonna get a kick out of it.
My daughter, who is fourteen, has even edgier taste than I do, and when I first told her about it, she had that same reaction about mermaids, but now she can hardly wait as she’s learned more about it. We are planning to watch it together.
I think it’s always interesting with a new show. We never quite know the direction it’s gonna go or where the audience is gonna get on board. But I feel pretty confident that this is gonna hit home with a lot of the audience. And I think that most of us cast members feel that way. I can understand people’s sentiment initially concerning mermaids, but I think people will pretty quickly see that it’s a bit different. I was actually excited about the idea of mermaids. I don’t know what that says about me. {laughs} When I watched the trailer, I thought it really looked “bad ass.” The mermaids are clearly dangerous, and there’s mystery going on. I thought, “Wow, this looks like a fun show.”
My daughter and I are looking forward to it, and it looks like you’re getting a lot of good press.
Yes, we have been. There are a lot of fan accounts starting up. I hope that means good things for us moving forward.
Is there anything else upcoming you can mention?
Hunting Season
I cannot reveal if my character is in the rest of the season of The Magicians, but I hope everyone tunes in as season three wraps up. I’m also in the third season of Colony. That’s a show on USA Network, and it’s been very popular. I’m looking forward to seeing that, and the fans of the show are catching up with that. I have been developing my own film as well called Hunting Season, and right now we’re in some pretty crazy post-production, which is awesome but definitely very busy. As I said before, I’ve always been really drawn to writing, and I went back and did my master’s in screenwriting. I’m definitely excited to finish this film. We’re working with sound design and composing and color grade and visual effects. I’m looking forward to getting everything finished.
That’s great because we definitely need more female writers and directors.
Yes, we do. I think it’s empowering and important to have other voices. I’ve definitely seen it with other friends of mine in the industry have gone on to do a lot more than their immediate discipline, whether that be acting or camera department or whatever it is. I think that well, if you are lucky to have the opportunity to do it, you definitely should.
While you probably don’t have much free time or downtime, what do you like to do when you do have those free moments?
I really love getting outdoors, which I know is sometimes kind of cliché. But it’s definitely part of what I love about being in Vancouver. I think that is one of my biggest inspirations about living in this part of the world is being able to have access to the beautiful outdoors. I also love seeing plays and live music.
That sounds fabulous. Well, thank you, Hannah, for your time. It was a lovely chat, and I look forward to seeing Siren very soon!
Me too, Ruth. And thank you so much for reaching out. I hope all the fans tune in March 29th!
Every time I come in contact with someone in the business with whom I am previously unacquainted, it is a cherished moment. Whenever I make that fundamental connection, I anticipate all that I will discover and the positivity that will electrify the room. I consistently go in with high expectations, and thankfully, the flashes of disappointment have been so few and far between regarding my interviews that none readily come to mind.
In the case of Hannah Levien, she absolutely exceeded my expectations. She was never dismissive of my questions, and though I did not have comprehensive knowledge of all her works, she was enthusiastic to chat with me cordially and pragmatically. She maintained her professionalism, never revealing more than she should, and the fact that we had some mutual friends made our time that much more engaging. There is no doubt in my mind that Hannah’s passion for the film and TV industry is enduring and profound, and there is nothing else in this world that enlivens her soul like being on set, writing a poignant story, or investing the time to share her perspective and experience with others. Even after all this time, she has not lost the wonder and reverence for her artistic pursuits, and it rouses my soul that she has not become jaded nor stoic as some actors do after they have been in the business for a few years. She still approaches each role with a drive and an intensity that translates through the screen and resonates with the viewers.
I would invite everyone who is amenable to tune in to Freeform on March 29th for the special two-hour premiere event of Siren. While I know that it may not be every person’s cup of tea, there is nothing quite like the practice of stepping out of one’s comfort zone and watching a show that is out of one’s typical genre. For some viewers, this will be entirely in their wheelhouse, but for me, this is a venture into the somewhat unknown. Thankfully, my daughter will be there to encourage me every step of the way. Furthermore, I plan to savor the show and in addition to all the positives Hannah detailed, watch for my three good friends who will be embodying key characters in this tale.
No matter what you choose, I do hope that everyone visits all of Hannah’s links below and follows her where applicable. While some of her roles may be too volcanic for a portion of my readers, there is bound to be something in her past or near future that will captivate your attention and seize your heart. I do tend to have a divinely-inspired knack for picking actors who are the next “stars” in-the-making, and I tend to believe that Hannah is on the very precipice of unparalleled prominence. No matter what comes next for her, I am immensely eager to celebrate her career in the days, months, and years to come, and I sincerely hope all of you join with me on her fascinating journey!
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