Antonia Desplat consistently demonstrates a remarkable capacity for character transformation within her acting pursuits. She delivered an award-winning performance in “Held For A Moment,” a short film which she not only acted in but also wrote and produced, demonstrating her abilities behind the camera as well as in front of it. Her notable credits include significant roles in Apple TV+’s series “Shantaram” and Netflix’s popular production, “The Sandman.” Additionally, she appears in Wes Anderson’s forthcoming film, “The Phoenician Scheme.” Desplat consistently gravitates toward characters who possess significant emotional complexity.
Whether she works on set or behind the scenes, Antonia Desplat approaches her craft with an intuitive understanding of both story mechanics and character motivations. Her distinct operational method grounds itself firmly in consistent research, established ritual, and a deliberate sense of restraint. In her conversation for DSCENE Magazine with editor Anastasija Pavić, Desplat discusses her unique approach to building characters. She describes constructing these individuals from their inner motivations outwards, creating authentic and believable portrayals. She further explains how her writing activities have significantly deepened her connection to performance, providing her with an enhanced comprehension of the roles she undertakes.
For the Defiance Issue’s cover story, photographer Jack Chipper captured Antonia Desplat. Alexandria Field took responsibility for the styling aspects of the shoot, carefully selecting the visual elements of Desplat’s presentation. Lucy Wearing, representing Forward Artists, managed the makeup application, ensuring a precise and fitting appearance. Laura Swaine handled the hair preparation, completing the artistic direction for the visuals. Nadia Smith provided valuable assistance to Alexandria Field with the styling coordination. For her prominent appearance on the cover, Antonia Desplat wears a specific and notable piece from the “CHANEL Métiers d’Art 2024/25 collection – Hangzhou.”
In preparing for a role, how do you transform the character from the page into the version we see on screen? – I do a lot of research beforehand and take in all the information about the character provided by the script. Then I tend to look inward to understand the dissimilarities and similarities between myself and the character. I try to find an animal to relate to in order to discover the character’s physicality and rhythm. I create sensorial memories for the character, and music is the final touch. Once I’m on set, I let it all go, I trust my instincts and bounce off my scene partners and the environment created by the sets. That’s when all the preparation I’ve done comes to life organically and unconsciously.
Discover Full Interview and Story With Antonia Desplat on DSCENE
Do you think acting itself can be an act of defiance? – It definitely can. By portraying someone else, you can allow yourself to be more daring or do things you wouldn’t normally do in everyday life. There’s something freeing and exciting about that. I think any expressive form can be defiant, whether you’re a painter, a musician, a filmmaker, or an actor. We test limits, within society and within ourselves. We provoke, we challenge, we spark debate and disagreement. Art is nothing if it’s not defiant in some way.
