Actress Robbie Barnes plays the lead female role in
The Dawson War, our latest film project. In the film, she portrays the strong Estella (Dawson) Harper, who has been the most harmed by her family's darkest secrets. The love of her life, Johnny Harper (played by John Chiara), helped to bring her out of the darkness, but her family's skeletons are soon to fall out of the closet and haunt her again! We caught up with the busy, beautiful and versatile actress to talk to her about acting, spooks and her latest role:
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| Actress Robbie Barnes |
Ghost Walk: When did you first get the acting bug?
Robbie Barnes: I was first bitten with the acting bug when I was four years old. I remember watching The Terminator and never being afraid of it, but wishing I was a part of it. My parents explained to me what a movie was so I wasn't scared of what I was seeing. I remember the second film and thinking Linda Hamilton was the coolest woman ever and I wanted to be like her. As I got older, nothing changed. I still want to be an ass-kicking chick making movies!
GW: How do you get into a role and put on the skin of the character, so to speak?
RB: I like to psychoanalyze the roles I get and figure out the background of the characters, the part of the script that's not written. I go over 100 questions about the character that will be on my mind when I portray her. I try to find relatable events in my life so I can play the emotion as accurately as possible. Even if it's a villain character who is doing something I would never or have never done, I still try to find a way to relate and to like my own character, even if no one else does. All villains have humanity to them; but with that, all heroes also have evil.
GW: Tell us about the first time you ever saw a ghost. How did you react?
RB: The first time I had a ghostly experience was in Gettysburg. I've had several there; I used to ghost hunt pretty frequently. Most of the time, I'd never see anything and it was just a feeling. A sensation that you're not alone...It would always creep me out. It wasn't pleasant, but of course, that'd come with the territory. It was a lot of negative energy. I was in an old house in Richmond once investigating, and I walked into an old parlor room and was hit with the smell of cigar smoke, though no one was smoking. It was the first time I ever smelled a phantom scent and it was...refreshing. A lot more relaxed. I felt calm. I made me smile. They were clearly having a party, and all was well.
GW: What do you like most about your character Estella in The Dawson War?
RB: I like that she's tough. She has her moments of being a pain to those around her, but she gets what she wants and can take care of herself. I've always loved strong, independent women roles.
GW: What was your favorite scary movie growing up? Why?
RB: The original Texas Chainsaw Massacre from the 70's. The idea of wearing someone else's skin that you cut off of them is just creepy. Not to mention that loud, scary chainsaw cutting through limbs and being hung on a meat hook. And I know it was an indie film made on a very small budget, and it was clearly a huge success. Bravo to them for turning it into a classic!
You can learn more about Robbie Barnes by visiting her
website and her Facebook
fan page.
