Mandahla Rose – ClexaCon UK

By: Lisa Steinberg

Q) What makes you to continue to be a part of ClexaCon both Las Vegas and London?

A) This one was actually really exciting because it is in London and the director and producer of all of that is in London now. So, when I heard about that and was invited to be a part of all of it and be on a panel, how exciting is that?! Also, I’ve actually never been to Europe. My first year overseas was 2014 and I went to India then in 2015 I went to San Francisco and LA for a screening for Outfest LA. So, to go to London is exciting!

Q) Were there any of the extra activities or events offered that attracted you as well?

A) The thing that most fascinates me about London is you can jump on a train and go to a completely different country within minutes. So, even the idea of just traveling for a little bit. Also, one of the things about London is there is so much history to explore!

Q) What can attendees expect to learn from your panel?

A) I actually have no idea how they are going to run it. I’m looking forward to hearing what goes into making a low budget film – what we had to do, how we almost lost the film, how we almost had to stop shooting halfway through the film. Elise worked on that for like ten years, I believe. So, this is her baby. Also, I’m looking forward to letting people know what it takes to shoot a sex scene like that. There was a lot that went into that sex scene to shoot it that we missed out on. There are so many stories about how the film came out and I’m interested in people finding out more about that and hopefully people can acknowledge and respect the work that goes into making a low budget film.

Q) We have seen you take on some dramatic and diverse roles that really showcase your range. There is a balance of vulnerability and complexity as well as being innately compelling. What connects you with these characters, especially All About E?

A) I noticed that whatever I do there is a similarity to the characters that I also find aligns with something in myself. So, I also find with certain roles my life (in a strange, funny way) mirrors part of the character’s life as well. So, I find ways to work through my own self by working through their stuff. All these characters that I play have that strength within them. I try not to choose or go with characters that men seem to (and I say men in a very generalized way) feel they need to transform into and what they feel we should be or how we should act. The characters that I am drawn to are women of strength and it’s an internal strength that I really like bringing to life so that when people (women especially) watch these characters hopefully they find something within themselves like I have. Hopefully, they find something within themselves that they can realize they have the strength within them, too. I can show them they have the strength and don’t need anyone to do that. That’s what I love about acting – we can sort of help people work through their own shit as well. Women are strong individuals. Incredibly strong. I find the characters and women that I choose have that inner strength that I’m drawn to.

Q) With your characters, we kind of see them push boundaries and turn pain into power at times. What is it about these fierce but flawed females that we relate to and need more of on screen?

A) We definitely need to see more of them on screen, which is why when I’m gifted a character that is strong but has vulnerabilities and work through those vulnerabilities to continue to make that decision to keep on going forward, they are not perfect, that is an ideal, but we’re not perfect. It’s our flaws that makes us unique, completely. We have been losing too many people to mental illness because we’ve been told it’s a bad thing and we look the other way. We need to make people aware that mental illness is real and that people suffer from it. Also, asking for help is probably the hardest thing you can do when you’re at a loss. Especially when you see that mental health has such a negative connotation.

Q) With more LGBT conventions emerging, why is it important we raise queer voices to celebrate our sexuality through these kinds of events?

A) Because we are equal individuals – everyone! Our voices should be heard as well. I remember going to ClexaCon this year and feeling so safe in that queer bubble. When ever I stepped out of it, it felt like a completely different world. I didn’t like how men were looking at me – just the way people were in general. Yes, it’s Las Vegas…[laughs] But to be in a convention like ClexaCon and feel so safe and so comfortable…You felt welcome and acknowledged. It was so wonderful to see so many people opening up and talking to each other. I noticed the difference. Afterwards, I thought, “I want to go back to ClexaCon. I don’t want to be here. I want to be in my bubble.” It is important because we’re constantly told that LGBTQ is wrong and that we’re not people. It is important for our voices to be heard because we have a right to do that. It’s our right. So, it’s really cool that Flame Con is happening and I look forward to even more LGBT conventions happening because, like I said, it is being acknowledged and welcomed. People have reached out to me since ClexaCon saying how much the convention changed their life. To hear people say that about a weekend event – that they went there and their life was completely changed because of that is indescribable. If there were more of this out there then perhaps there would be way less people thinking they have to kill themselves because they are not normal or they’re weird or not sane or cared for. To hear that there are more conventions popping up really makes my heart warm.

Q) We talk about this inclusivity and the need for more and, of course, diversity. How can we work on expanding perspectives, where we can start so that we do see every voice and every gender and have that spectrum represented on screen? Where can we start in conversations?

A) The best way to get that content out there is to write it. What I’ve noticed at the moment (and it’s coming out after ClexaCon) is that people are realizing that the only way they are going to be able to have their representation is to actually put the word out there. If you look at all these films that are being made – and most of them are being made by white males; white straight males…If queer individuals were to write their own stuff and actually have their representation out there for people to see then the more representation and the more people will be expecting it. We can deep, deep into this. The way society has made us see things is probably anyway social media and TV and it’s our programming. If we put more queer content out there than more queer individuals are going to be seen and recognized and feel as though they are going to actually be heard. So, they’ll feel as if they are inclusive and are equal. If we can get more queer content out there the better. I was recently asked the question like, “Do you feel that being given queer roles is pigeonholing my career?” I remember thinking back to when we weren’t seen as much. I thought it could be a bad thing if I’m always given queer roles. I keep a journal and I wrote down the projects that I’ve been in since being in the states and I wrote down fourteen projects and eight of them I am queer. And maybe about three of them my sexuality doesn’t matter. But it makes me feel so good that there are eight projects out there or coming out for queer individuals. I get excited when I’m offered a role that is LGBTQ because I’m like, “Fuck yes!” I’m actually now like, “Aw, that’s a straight role?” [laughs] “Could she maybe be bisexual at least?”

Q) Congratulations as well on “Passage!” What can you tease about that project or any of the others you are working on?

A) “Forever Not, Maybe” is a feature film, but it was a series and it is the reason I actually came to LA. We ended up shooting for over two and a half years. We turned it into a feature film that will be released next year. I play an LA based writing director and her love interest is Elizabeth. Elizabeth is a concert pianist from Corsica. They fall in love and it follows them in a very male oriented industry and it’s a long-distance relationship as well. It expands years – like maybe forty years. So, it’s a really beautiful story about love. That one comes out in June. Then, there is “Crazy Bitches.” It’s Guinevere Turner and I as love interests in “Alice & Iza.” It’s based on a one-night stand. Christin Baker from Tello Films directed it and it was written by Bridget McManus. We had a lot of fun shooting that. I’m not sure when that is coming out, but it is in post-production. I have to shoot over to Virginia to shoot “Passage” on the second of October. Then, after that I shoot with BIFL, which is an LGBTQ company with a lot of drama. I play Sarah and it is about a house with four friends.

Q) What are some of the other panels or ClexaCon events or guests you are excited to meet?

A) I’ve actually been pretty busy, so I haven’t looked at who the guests that are going or the other panels. When I’m there I’ll be walking around. I’m signing autographs and that sounds like a wonderfully new experience. [laughs] I’m excited to just meet a whole bunch of people. One of my favorite things is just meeting people when they come up to you. Everyone has a story. After London I have to head back to the Australia so I’m also looking forward to heading home a bit.

Q) Is there anything else you’d like to be sure we share with our readers or what you hope fans take away from this international experience?

A) Right now, I’m just excited about going. I’m excited about seeing Elise again. It’s been a really long time since I’ve seen her. Actually, talking about All About E when we were shooting I remember when we were all just sitting there or just when we were going through the choreography of a scene there were moments when we would turn to each other and be like, “This film is really special.” I’m really looking forward to people hearing about it and getting to know about it more. It is really special and I think she speaks to a lot of people with her ethnic background and being out to her family. And it’s one of those stories that does have a ridiculously stupid happy ending, but sometimes that is really nice as well. So, I’m looking forward to people knowing that story more and I’m looking forward to just being in that bubble again. More than anything what I love about my job, a part from the acting part, is that as an actor having the privilege of being on a platform is that I also have a responsibility to my fans and the people who respect what I do. So, I’m most looking forward to being in that bubble and meeting people. Because I remember coming back from ClexaCon in April and just glowing. It was such an incredibly uplifting experience that kind of confirmed that what I’m doing and the path that I’m on is not just because I love this job (which I do). I do it because I want to inspire other people. Coming back from that and knowing that I had been maybe helpful to individuals is pretty powerful.